Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Patsy Ellis.

None disclosed.

Minutes from the meeting held on 17 March 2026 were proposed, seconded and agreed.

That under Section 100 (A) 4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that it is likely, that if they were present, there could be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

It was proposed, seconded and agreed to exclude the press and public during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 because of the likelihood that otherwise exempt information, as described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Act (as amended) would be disclosed to them.

Committee to determine whether a driver remains a fit and proper person to hold a licence report ENV937 from the Licensing Officer.

Decision

That the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence with South Kesteven District Council as they had not met the requirements of South Kesteven District Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and that their dual Driver’s licence be revoked.

The applicant was not present at the meeting.

The Licensing Officer presented exempt report ENV937 which concerned whether a driver remained a fit and proper person to hold a Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence with South Kesteven District Council having failed to meet the requirements of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy by maintaining the DBS subscription or registering for a new DBS certificate.

The driver had held a dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers licence with South Kesteven District Council since October 2024.  The June 2024 Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy stated the requirement for drivers to register their DBS certificates for the DBS Update Service, enabling licensing officers to undertake a six monthly check.

The driver had a DBS certificate issued to them upon first application in October 2024 and was signed up to the DBS update service, with a successful DBS subscription check being carried out in April 2025.

The next check in October 2025 indicated that the DBS update service subscription had failed.   Emails were sent to the driver detailing the failure and the actions required to rectify it.  Further auto reminder emails were also sent at the end of October, no application was received.

The unsubmitted DBS invitations expired after 30 days. A new DBS invitation was sent out in January 2026 by email with a further email being sent indicating the necessary remedial action required no later than February 2026.  Further auto email reminders were sent in January and February 2026.

After the February deadline had passed attempts to contact the driver by telephone on two separate occasions went straight to voicemail.  A visit to the drivers address was carried out by a Licensing Officer who relayed that the driver needed to surrender their badge  if no longer required or that a DBS application needed to be submitted.  An email was received from the driver who indicated that they wished to keep their badge.  A third application was sent in April 2026 inviting the driver to apply for the DBS check with an April deadline given.  To date no application had been received.

Members questioned the Officer about the in person visit and it was confirmed that a woman had answered the door and the information had been relayed to her.  A question was asked about why the driver wished to keep their badge, however the Licensing Officer could not confirm the reason.

The Licensing Officer then gave their closing statement reminding Members that each application had to be determined on its own merits.  The Licensing Officer referred to the report where the relevant sections from the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Committee to determine whether a driver remains a fit and proper person to hold a licence, report ENV936 from the Licensing Officer.

Decision

The Committee decided to depart from the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in this instance and in their view,  the circumstances were exceptional to justify such a departure and that the driver remained a fit and proper person to hold a Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers licence.

The Chairman introduced those present and confirmed who would be speaking in respect of the matter before the Committee.  The driver was present together with a family representative.

The Licensing Officer presented exempt report ENV936 which was for the Committee to determine whether the driver remained a fit and proper person to hold a Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers’ Licence, a Private Hire Operators licence and a Private Hire Vehicle licence with South Kesteven District Council after receiving a six month driving ban in court for totting up of penalty points.

The driver had held a Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence with South Kesteven District Council since November 2023, a private hire operator licence since February 2024 and a private hire vehicle licence since September 2025.

In April 2026 the Licensing Team had received an email from the driver with the outcome of a court hearing which advised that the driver had been disqualified from driving for six months and had also incurred a fine.  The ban was due to the totting up procedure of obtaining 13 penalty points on their DVLA licence.

An email was sent to the driver requesting further information regarding the penalty points to which the driver responded. Copies of the emails were appended to the report.

The driver then made their representation outlining the circumstances in which the offences had occurred and answered Members questions in relation to the incidents and offences.

The Licensing Officer then gave their closing statement reminding the Committee that each matter should be determined on its own merits.  Members attention was drawn to the relevant parts of the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which was reproduced in the report at paragraph 3.2.  When making their decision the Committee must have regard to all relevant policies including any representations made by the driver in their defence, together with the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and the Department of Transport Standards and relevant guidance.

The driver then made a brief closing statement stating that the offences had been an honest mistake due to the new vehicle and not being familiar with that particular road and in future they would ensure that they were more aware of speed limits.

(10:35 Licensing Officers, driver and representative left the meeting)

Members discussed the driver before them having regard to all the relevant guidance and policies and the representation made by the driver and their representative.  Some Members felt that the driver should have been more aware of what the speed limit should be, especially being a hackney carriage/private hire driver and the safety of the public was paramount.  However, it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Committee to determine an application to renew a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence – Report ENV935 of Licensing Officer.

The Chairman stated that the meeting was back in public session.

Decision

To approve the renewal of the application for a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence for Lolas Lounge (previously known as Taboo Gentlemen’s Club), 99A Westgate, Grantham, NG31 6LE in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009).

The Chairman introduced those present and confirmed who would be speaking in respect of the application before the Committee.  Serena Baxter the applicant confirmed she would be speaking in respect of the application.

The Licensing Officer presented the report which concerned an application to renew a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence for Lola’s Lounge, 99A Westgate, Grantham.

The Policing and Crime Act 2009 amends Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to permit the Licensing Authority to license sex establishments.

In accordance with the Authority’s procedures, all applications relating to sexual entertainment venues, with the exception of uncontested transfer applications, will be heard by the Licensing Committee.

On 27 March 2026 an application was received by the Licensing Authority to renew the existing Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence for Lolas Lounge, 99a Westgate, Grantham.

A sex establishment means any premises, vessel or stall where relevant entertainment is provided before a lie audience for the financial gain of the organiser or entertainer.

The applicant had run a sexual entertainment venue at the premises since April 2025, although there had been a sexual entertainment venue licence at the premise since 2012.  No objections had been received from the Police, the only responsible authority required to be served with a copy of the application under Schedule 3, paragraph 10 (14) of the LGMPA, one representation from a member of the public had been received but this had since been withdrawn.

The applicant then made their representation stating that they had bought the business in April 2025.  Ms Baxter had been running sexual entertainment venues since 2017 and the application before the Committee was a renewal of the sexual entertainment venue licence, the only change being the name of the venue.

The Licensing Officer then gave their closing statement.  Each application must be determined on its own merits with applications only being able to be refused on certain defined mandatory or discretionary grounds as outlined at paragraph 3.1 within the report.  The options available to the Committee were:

·       To renew the application as applied for

·       To renew the application with modifications and/or additional conditions

·       Refuse the renewal – if, having considered the renewal application the committee decides to refuse it, it must provide the applicant with the reasons for the decision in writing.

The applicant had nothing to add.

(11:06 the Licensing Officers, applicant and the press left the meeting)

Members discussed the application before them having regard to all relevant guidance and policies.  Members noted that the application was for a renewal of the sexual entertainment venue licence and that the only representation received had been withdrawn and no representations had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

None.

The meeting closed at 11:13am.