Agenda item

            The Head of Building Control reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 17thDecember 2014, it had been advised that two objections had been received in relation to an application for the renewal of a Seven-day Annual Entertainments Licence for El Divino nightclub. The Committee was informed that the complaints related to the following:

·        disturbance and antisocial behaviour caused by patrons arriving and leaving the premises;

·        lewd behaviour in the car park of El Divino;

·        traffic congestion and rubbish on the Laganbank Road;

·        disturbance having a detrimental effect on the objector’s health and wellbeing; and

·        it was unreasonable to have a nightclub on a road where two residential apartment blocks were located.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 17th December, it had agreed to implement a revised protocol which would permit both the applicant and the objectors to be present within the room whilst an application was under discussion.  However, whilst the two complainants had been invited to the meeting, they were unable to attend but had not requested that consideration of the application be deferred.

            Accordingly, the Director of El Divino, Mr. P. Langsford, together with Mr. P. Kelly, senior manager, were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman. 

            Mr. Langsford referred to the objections which had been submitted by the complainants and outlined the steps which had been taken to address those matters.  Mr. Langsford and Mr. Kelly indicated that they had taken a number of measures to address the concerns of residents in the Laganbank Road area, which had included closing the Club on Monday nights and at 2.00am on other nights, increasing the number of security personnel, reducing the size of the outdoor smoking area and closing certain areas of the club at 12 midnight in order to reduce noise in the area.  Mr. Langsford explained that the nightclub was considering setting up a phone line for residents of the Laganbank Road area which would allow them to speak directly to a manager should they have a complaint.  The deputation then answered a number of questions and retired from the meeting.

            The Committee agreed, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, to grant a renewal of a Seven-day Annual Entertainments Licence in respect of El Divino, Mays Meadow, Laganbank Road.