Agenda and minutes

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor Ms Susie Govett and

Resolved: To appoint Councillor Russell Tillson as Chairman for the meeting.

(Voting: For 2; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories*:

a)        disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI)

b)         other significant interests (OSI)

c)         voluntary announcements of other interests

Councillor Michael Lyons declared a voluntary announcement in Report DCL/18/05. He remained in the meeting during the discussion and voting of this item.

Report DCL/18/05 sets out the facts for the Licensing Committee to consider when a responsible authority applies to the Licensing Authority for a review of a premise licence. The licensing committee is the Licensing Authority acting in a role previously taken by the Magistrates Court. It is, therefore, not appropriate for officers to make additional comments other than in the capacity as a Responsible Authority under the legislation of the Licensing Act 2003. Therefore there are no comments from Legal, Finance or other officers included in this report

Report DCL/18/05 set out the facts for the Licensing Committee to

consider when a responsible authority applies to the Licensing Authority

for a review of a premise licence. The licensing committee is the Licensing

Authority acting in a role previously undertaken by the Magistrate’s Court. It is,

therefore, not appropriate for officers to make additional comments other

than in the capacity as a Responsible Authority under the legislation of the

Licensing Act 2003. Therefore there are no comments from Legal, Finance

or other officers included in this report.

Mr Atkins, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, presented the Licensing Sub Committee with the initial background to the report and why it had now come to Committee.

The Chairman introduced those present, and invited the responsible authorities and interested parties to make representations. The Sub-Committee heard a number of representations:

PC Chris Stephens applied for a review of the premises licence and proceeded to go through the representation as stated in the report.

PC Stephens also informed the Sub-Committee that he has had numerous conversations with Mr Patel, the Licence Holder, to discuss all the issues raised in the representation and he felt that Mr Patel was willing to listen and undertake the advice from the Police and was happy to take on all the conditions put to him.

It was clear from all the discussions and incidents that there was a significant issue with managerial responsibilities.

Lisa Farrell, Licensing Officer, on behalf of the Licensing Authority, informed the Sub-Committee of a number of visits she had made to the premises and this information is contained in Appendix 3 in the report.

Members requested the dates of these visits which will be provided following the meeting.

Mr Mihirbhai Patel, Licence Holder, responded to the issues raised by both the Police and the Licensing Officer, answering a number of questions from the Sub-Committee but he also wanted to reassure the Sub-Committee that he had taken the concerns seriously and that he had already begun to make changes. He wanted to work with the Police and officers of the Council to improve the functioning of the Swan Hotel and in doing this he would work on the following:

·         provide staff training and staff training log books;

·         operational CCTV: this has now been done;

·         log books for incidents, keeping a correct record and informing the police accordingly;

·         Challenge 25 – no alcohol will be sold if ID cannot be produced;

·         All the necessary signage to inform customers of the rules and regulations;

·         Mr Patel would be on site more;

·         Not to have single staff on duty in the bar/restaurant;

·         Ladies toilets to be left unlocked;

·         Noise issues would be monitored and music would be switched off/town to a level acceptable at 11 o’clock.

·         Clear signage informing residents and clientele of the rules and regulations – this is already being done.

Mr Patel explained that he did want to improve the running of the Hotel and to do this with the help from the police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.