Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey GU21 6YL

Contact: Doug Davern  on 01483 743018 or email  doug.davern@woking.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee A held on 1 August 2018 as published.

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Sub-Committee held on 1 August 2018 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

3.

Urgent Business

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of Urgent Business.

4.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 5 in view of the nature of the proceedings that, if members of the press and public were present during this item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.

5.

Personal Licence Hearing

Reporting Person – Matthew Cobb

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee had before it a report regarding an application for a new Personal Licence, for which an objection had been received from Surrey Police.  The applicant attended the meeting, along with Sergeant Wyatt representing Surrey Police.

All parties present had a copy of the Licensing Committee’s agreed procedure to be followed at Licensing Sub-Committee hearings.  The Chairman introduced Members of the Sub-Committee and outlined the order of speaking which would be followed at the hearing.

The Licensing Authority’s representative, Mr Cobb, summarised the report that was before the Sub-Committee, stating that the Licensing Authority was required to provide notice to the Police of any application for a Personal Licence whereby the Applicant had been convicted of any relevant offence.  Following notification of the Application before the Sub-Committee, Surrey Police submitted an objection on the grounds that it would undermine the licensing objective for the prevention of crime and disorder.  The matter was therefore before the Sub-Committee for determination.  None of the parties present had any questions for Mr Cobb.

The Chairman gave the Applicant the chance to address the Sub-Committee, who advised that just a Closing Statement would be made.

The Chairman gave Sergeant Wyatt the opportunity to present the case from Surrey Police.  The Sub-Committee was advised that the Applicant had been convicted of relevant offences which were not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.  Therefore Surrey Police had requested that the application be declined under the crime prevention licensing objective.  None of the parties present had any questions for Surrey Police.

The Chairman asked the parties present for any Closing Statements.  The Licensing Authority and Surrey Police had no further comments to make.  The Applicant stated that they had made efforts to change their ways since the convictions and were now working in the retail sector, adding that they regretted their past actions and would like the opportunity to hold a Personal Licence for the purposes of career.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10.45am.  The Sub-Committee deliberated in private, requesting that the Council’s Solicitor join them for the provision of legal advice, and re-assembled at 11.00am.

The Chairman advised those present that the Sub-Committee had taken into account the written representations before it, the oral statements made at the meeting, the Council’s Licensing Policy and national guidance.  He stated that the decision of the Sub-Committee was to refuse the application for a Personal Licence, having regard to the licensing objective for the prevention of crime and disorder.  There was the right of appeal to the Magistrate’s Court within 21 days.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the application for a Personal Licence be declined.