Agenda item

The Licensing Officer presented the report regarding a summary review of a premises licence for the Fat Cat Bar/Rumshack in Weymouth that had taken place on 17^th July 2020  and the request for consideration of representations against the interim steps which was to  suspend the licence pending a full review.  The premise licence holder was entitled to make representations against the interim steps at any time up to the date of full review hearing. 

Representations from the premises licence holder had been received by Dorset Council on 23 July 2020, requiring a hearing to be convened within 2 working days to consider the representations.  Members of the Sub-committee had received the written representations of the premises licence holder.  Under the procedure for the meeting the Sub-committee was required to consider whether the interim steps were appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives and to determine whether to withdraw or modify the steps taken.

Following the introduction of the report, the Chairman invited Mr Grunert, to address the Sub-committee on behalf of the premises licence holder. Mr Grunert explained in full the background to the matter and proposed 4 additional conditions in place of the licence suspension. The Chairman and Cllr J Andrews asked a number of questions to seek clarity on the conditions being proposed. 

Sergeant G Gosling representing Dorset Police was invited to address the Sub-committee and he set out in detail of the concerns raised by Dorset Police and the events that had let up to the request for a summary review.

After hearing all of the evidence presented by Mr Grunert on behalf of the premises licence holder and Sergeant G Gosling on behalf of Dorset Police the Chairman invited Mr Grunert to sum up and following his summary Mr Grunert was given the opportunity to ask questions of the Police representative. Sergeant G Gosling was then given the opportunity to sum up on behalf of Dorset Police.

At 12 noon the councillors retired in order to consider the decision.

At 12.22pm the councillors returned to the Sub-committee hearing and the Chairman read out the decision of the Sub-committee.  

Decision

That the interim step of suspending the Premises Licence for the Fat Cat Bar / Rumshack with immediate effect, shall remain in force pending the full review hearing.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Sub-committee considered the representations from the applicant and Dorset Police, the Licensing Act 2003, in particular Sections 53A – B of that Act, the S182 Guidance relating to expedited reviews, the licensing objectives, the Dorset Council (Weymouth and Portland) Statement of Licensing Policy 2016 and all of the information presented to them today and decided as follows:

1. The Sub-committee continued to believe that the interim step of suspending the premises licence pending the full expedited review hearing is a proportionate and appropriate measure to take to prevent serious crime and/or serious disorder occurring.

2. The Sub-committee were of the view that the other options suggested to them by the Premises Licence Holder were insufficient to address the issues at the premises and to ensure the promotion of the licensing objectives.