Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashberry, Broughton, Chivers and Susan Sandall.

Members are asked to disclose any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

None disclosed.

                                                                                                            (Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on 18th October were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

Report CSL042 by the Community Safety and Licensing Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That the application to vary the Premises Licence for Faces, Westgate Hall, Grantham be refused.

The Solicitor to the Committee introduced those present and confirmed who was to speak in connection with the application. On behalf the applicant Miss Hannah Whelan, Barrister, Mr Jonathan Askham lease holder and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) of the premises and Miss Kirsty Rogers Manager’s assistant at the premises.  For the Police, Miss Clare Hennessy, Barrister and PC Alex Bedford.

The Licensing Officer presented report CSL042 which concerned an application to vary the existing Premises Licence for Faces, Westgate Hall, Grantham by an extra hour on Saturday/Sunday morning until 04:00hrs.  A representation had been received from the Police under the licensing objectives, the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and Protection of Children from Harm.  The representations concerned the management of the premises and alleged problems of alcohol fuelled disorder occurring in Grantham Town Centre in the early hours of weekend mornings after late night premises had closed.

Miss Whelan then presented the applicant’s case.  The owner of the premises Mr Askham had been in the licensing business for 14 years and owned other premises in Grantham including the Kings Arms, Gravity in the Market Place and RARA.  Three months ago he had taken over as owner of Faces.  Miss Kayleigh Newton, the applicant was the Manager of the premises and ran it in conjunction with Gravity.  Faces was the only paying nightclub in the town. Under a Temporary Events Licence the owner had trialled events at the premises which had closed at 4am and as these had been successful he wished to vary the existing Premises Licence. The other premises owned by Mr Askham closed at staggered hours to help disperse patrons from the town centre and this was welcomed by the taxi drivers and the late night eateries.

Following issues with the CCTV equipment previously installed in the premises a new hard drive had been installed together with more cameras, also extra door staff were on duty late on Saturday/Sunday morning.  Mr Askham was aware of his obligations to the police and the requirement of CCTV equipment and wished to work with the police. Reference was then made to the children’s disco that was held at the premises on a Friday evening at which incidents had taken place and to which the Police had visited and found the conditions of the licence not being adhered to, when this had been pointed out to those present nothing was done and it appeared those people present did not know the conditions of the licence.

Questions were then asked about the children’s disco and the Solicitor to the Committee clarified that reference to the children’s disco had been given as background information and shouldn’t be afforded weight as a consideration as to whether the club should be allowed to operate until 4am. The central issue was whether the extra hour asked for would undermine the licensing objectives.

Further questions were asked about the management of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The meeting closed at 12.22pm.