Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting and the Chairman to present and explain the procedure for the meeting.

Proposed by Cllr Susan cocking, seconded by Cllr Cathy Lugg

Cllr Emma Parker elected as chairman for the duration of the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Sarah Williams and Paul Harrison, substituted by Cllrs Cathy Lugg and Susan Cocking.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

An application has been made for a variation to the premises licence for Chic Bar and Club, Weymouth to extend the opening hours and amendment to some conditions under Appendix 2 of the premises licence.  The application has been out to public consultation and has attracted relevant representations.  A Licensing Sub Committee must consider the application and representations at a public hearing.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented the report to consider an application to vary a premise licence for Chic Bar and Club. To permit live music (indoors), recorded music (indoors), performance of dance (indoors), late night refreshment (indoors), together with the sale of alcohol (on and off sales) every day between the hours of 11:00 and 03:00. To open the premises every day from 11:00 to 03:30 and to permit entry or re-entry up until 02:30. Changes were requested to reduce the requirement for Security Industry Authority (SIA) registered door supervisors.

The applicant Mr Panjalizadeh-Marseh outlined the history of the club and added that he had written to the Town Council to address the issues raised in their representation and had a discussion with the local resident. He covered issues with the last entry and re-entry condition, the conditions relating to searches of ‘all persons’ and identification checks and female SIA door supervisors. He had a problem with the term all persons meaning everybody had to be searched and stated that he wished to amend this condition to allow his friends, staff, performers, maintenance staff and himself to be able to enter the premises without being searched or ID checked.

The Sub-Committee was informed of an incidence involving a knuckleduster which had been confiscated outside the premises by his door staff and the door staff had secured the item in the premises.

The applicant clarified that he wanted 100% of patrons to be searched. He also informed the committee that it was very difficult to find female door staff and often these staff would have to travel far distances to get to his club and he had been forced to close the premises due to this problem.

Mr Rosewell stated concerns regarding the person linked to the incidence on the 13th of May revisiting Chic and the noise of people entering and leaving the premises and litter.

The applicant ensured that he made the security staff aware of what the person looked like and that he employed the same security staff and continued to be on alert.

Kirsty Gatehouse and Sergeant Gosling confirmed that conditions had worked to deter crime and disorder and had been an effective deterrent.  It was highlighted that that Emergency Services and Council Licensing Officers had statutory powers to enter the premises, but it was accepted that the Sub-Committee could consider amending the condition to exclude the Designated Premises Supervisor and owner of the premises, but not staff. The police accepted that a female member of staff could undertake searches of female customers if a female member of door staff were not available. It was considered that a reduction in SIA door staff was acceptable as long as there was a requirement for a risk assessment to be undertaken to assess and implement the appropriate number of door staff for any special events.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up prior to the Sub-Committee

adjourning to make their decision.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

Proposed by Cllr Susan Cocking, seconded by Cllr Cathy Lugg.

Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Decision:

To VARY the Premises Licence to amend conditions 1.1 and 1.2 (Entry and re-entry), 2.1 and 2.6 (SIA), 3.2 (Searches), 5 (Entry System), and add a new condition relating to the carrying out of a risk assessment for special events as set out below, to permit the following:

Varied Conditions

1.    Entry and re-entry

1.1 There shall be no entry or re-entry to the premises after 02:30 hours.

1.2 Appropriate signage shall be clearly displayed at each exit from the premises advising patrons that re-entry to the premises after 02:30 hours is prohibited, and that this prohibition also applies to people wishing to leave the premises to smoke.

2.    SIA

2.1 From 2200hrs until one hour after the end of licensable activities; from Sunday – Thursday there shall be a minimum of two SIA registered door supervisors at the front door; on Fridays and Saturdays there shall be a minimum of three SIA registered door supervisors at the front door. There shall be in addition a minimum of one further SIA registered door supervisor per additional floor open.

2.6 When door supervisors are required to undertake body searches of female customers and a female door supervisor is not available, a competent female member of staff will be available at the point of entry to undertake the searches of female customers.

3.2 All persons to be searched from 22:00hrs with the exception of the Designated   Premises Supervisor, on duty emergency services personnel and Council Licensing Officers.

5. Entry System

The premises shall install and maintain a computer-based identification entry system. The details of all persons, including staff but excluding the Designated Premises Supervisor and on duty emergency services personnel and Council Licensing Officers, are to be passed through the system prior to being permitted entry to the premises. The provision and maintenance of such equipment shall be to the reasonable satisfaction of Dorset Police. The details of persons recorded by the system to be made available to Police upon reasonable request for the provision of preventing and detecting crime. The operation of the ID system is to start at 2000hrs.

New Condition Added to the Licence

The holder of the licence shall undertake a risk assessment with regard to the deployment of additional SIA registered door supervisors for any special events and then implement the outcome of the risk assessment. A copy of the risk assessment should be made available to an authorised officer of the Licensing Authority or Dorset Police upon request and for a period of up to 12 months.