Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2015 having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

          An application (“the application”) had been made by the Chief Officer of Police Cheshire Constabulary for the summary review of the premises licence at the Pulse Bar, 98 Victoria Road, Widnes, under section 53A of the Act (premises associated with serious crime). The application was received by the Council on 24 July 2015.

An interim steps consideration took place under Section 53A(2)(a) and Section 53B of the Act on 28 July 2015 before a Sub Committee of the Regulatory Committee comprising Cllrs Wallace, A Lowe and Wall. At that consideration the Police were represented by Ian Seville, Police Licensing Officer and Paul Draycott, Police Licensing Officer. The Premises Licence Holder, Pulse Bar Limited, was represented by Anthony Horne of Licensing Legal who was accompanied by Tom Farnan and John Farnan, representatives of Pulse Bar Limited.

Having heard representations from both parties the Sub-Committee resolved that:-

The Premises Licence be suspended with immediate effect.

The Council’s reasons for making that decision were:

• The Council accepted the view of the Police that the premises were associated with serious crime in that evidence had been provided as detailed in Section 4 of the Police application;

• The interim steps referred to in Section 53B(3),(a),(b) and (c) were inappropriate to take in this matter;

• The interim step referred to in Section 53B (3)(d) was required and shall take effect immediately.  As a result the premises licence for the venue shall be suspended immediately;

• This interim step was required in the interests of the licensing objective of prevention of crime and disorder;

• The Sub Committee of the Regulatory Committee expressed grave concerns in relation to the operation of an ineffective door management policy by the Licence Holder.  It was also felt that there was poor management of the premises and general unawareness / non availability of the appointed Designated Premises Supervisor;

• The interim step would remain in force until the whole of the review process was completed.   

Representations made in advance of the hearing

The licensing authority was under a duty to hold a hearing to consider the application and any relevant representations.

No relevant representations were received by the licensing authority prior to the hearing within the meaning of Section 53C of the Act. However, documents in support of the application and in support of representations to be made at the hearing by the parties were submitted.

The application comprised pages 1 to 9 of the bundle used at the hearing.

Five days prior to the hearing, the licensing authority received from the Police the documents comprising pages 10 to 16 of the bundle.

Five days prior to the hearing, the licensing authority received two documents on behalf of the Premises Licence Holder. These were contained at pages 17 to 20 of the bundle used at the hearing. These were details of a security company and details of a potential designated premises supervisor.

On the evening of 17 August 2015 the licensing authority was emailed two documents on behalf of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.