Council sorry over missed planning objections

A council has apologised to a councillor after her objection to a rooftop bar's late-night alcohol licence was "missed" before the application was approved.

Dallington Spencer councillor Sally Keeble raised concerns over granting a licence to Kaja Lounge in Harlestone Road, Northampton.

Now she has asked for a full investigation after her concerns about the adequacy of fire escapes, and the appropriateness of late-night hours in a residential area, did not form part of the licensing panels considerations.

A council spokesperson said that an objection relating to the application was missed due to an IT error, which was believed to be an "isolated incident".

A representative for the rooftop bar previously told the licensing hearing that the venue would have robust operating controls and a noise management plan.

The ward councillor for the area also raised concerns that the report inaccurately stated that the area affected was Billing, which is on the other side of Northampton.

She said that if failings had been found in the process, the licence should be revoked.

Keeble told the Local Democracy Report Service: "I think that this is a seriously problematic premises and I think there will be issues around it."

In response, West Northamptonshire Council said they had apologised to the councillor.

It said: "The licensing application received a number of other objections with similar points to those made in the councillor's objection and the committee fully explored and considered all these issues."

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