This week:

• I had a meeting with Zafer Saygilier, CEO of Sayturk Group and his legal representative. He wanted to talk to me about the pressures on the hospitality business in Newcastle and my decision to object to recent applications for Bar Loco, St James Cafe (in both cases I was concerned about the lack of noise conditions) and the Cup n Craic (this is an application for a new bar in an area which has been designated as a Cumulative Impact / Special Stress Area in the Licensing Policy – see page 64-85 – any new application should be refused unless the Applicant can demonstrate (1) that there are exceptional circumstances; and that (2) the application/notice (if granted) will not add to the negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.) Mr Saygilier is also a member of NE1 Hospitality Group, which has an initiated a judicial review of the council’s decision to extend the planning permission for the St James Park fanzone.
• I asked the licensing team for an update on objections I’d made to applications for Sambuca (removal of noise conditions) and Zerox (an extensive pavement cafe) on the Quayside and Hooters (a relaxation of conditions on opening times).
• I was contacted about ongoing concerns about the underpasses around Pilgrim Street – there are issues with rise antisocial behaviour, vandalism, and drug use. These underpasses have always been a challenge – they belong to an era when people were supposed to adapt to design rather than the other way round* – but the problems reflect the wider challenges in the city. There are plans to carry out some improvements to the lighting of the underpasses, which should help. It’s also important that people report any crime or anti-social behaviour in this or other areas to the police to help them plan their patrols.
• I contacted the council’s director of housing about The Cedars on Park Road. This is a leasehold block of flats for which the council owns the freehold. The owners of the leasehold flats have huge concerns about the bills they are being asked to pay for maintenance and repairs and I am trying to fnd out what thought was given to the long-term viability of the blocks when they were refurbished as part of the redevelopment of Cruddas Park