Agenda and minutes

Licensing Sub-Committee A - Thursday, 16th September, 2021 2.30 pm

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

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

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor K Howard was elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

2.

Appointment of Vice-Chairman

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor M Bridgeman was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

3.

Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee A held on 23 April 2019 as published.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Sub-Committee held on 23 April 2019 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

4.

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

5.

Urgent Business

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of Urgent Business.

6.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The Chairman will move and the Vice-Chair will second:-

 

"That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items 7 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 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.”

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of minutes 7 and 8 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 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.

7.

Adjournment

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 2.35pm due to the Sub-Committee waiting for parties participating in the hearing to arrive, and reconvened the meeting at 3.15pm.

8.

Review of a Personal Licence

Reporting Person – Derrick Laing

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 Lesley Sumner and Sergeant Sarah Wentworth (who was attending in an observing capacity) 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 Laing, summarised the report that was before the Sub-Committee, stating that the applicant had submitted an application for a Personal Licence to the Licensing Authority on 12 August 2021, to which an objection had been received from Surrey Police on the grounds of the crime and disorder prevention licensing objective.  The matter was therefore before the Sub-Committee for determination.  None of the parties present had any questions for Mr Laing.

The Chairman gave the Applicant the chance to address the Sub-Committee, who stated that they had been working in hospitality since 2017 and had applied for the licence to progress their career, increase levels of accountability and serve the local community.  Following questions from Members of the Sub-Committee, the Applicant set out the employers worked for during that time along with the current role as a General Manager for a hospitality business; advised a letter had been received from the current employer complementing the work undertaken; and had completed the course to hold a Personal Licence in 2019 prior to the pandemic.

The Chairman gave Lesley Sumner 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.  Lesley Sumner set out the nature of the offences which had been very serious along with the concluding remarks of the Judge presiding the case.  Following a question from Members of the Sub-Committee, it was stated that the offences were still relevant as they were within the unspent period of four years.

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 rehabilitate since the convictions and did not hold any CCJs, Child Protection Orders or Restraining Orders.  The Applicant added that they would like to hold a Personal Licence when it was felt that the rehabilitation was complete.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 3.45pm.  The Sub-Committee deliberated in private, requesting that the Council’s Solicitor join them for the provision of legal advice, and re-assembled at 4.05pm.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.