Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting of the Sub Committee.

Nominations for a Chairman of the Licensing Sub Committee were sought and it was

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Stewart Palmen as Chairman for this meeting only.

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

No apologies were received.  There were no substitutions.

The Chairman notified all those present at the meeting that it was being recorded and that the recording would be available on the Council’s website for public viewing and that as indicated on the information within the Agenda pack, that images and sound recordings may also be used for training purposes within the Council. 

The Chairman reminded those present that any speakers that wished to remain and make a statement to the Sub Committee would be giving consent and that they would be recorded presenting this. Also the meeting could be recorded by the  press or members of the public. 

The Chairman then asked if anyone present wished to withdraw from the meeting.  All parties confirmed they wished to remain in and take part in the Sub Committee hearing. 

The Chairman explained the procedure to be followed at the hearing, as contained within the “Wiltshire Licensing Committee Procedural Rules for the Hearing of Applications under Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982” (Pages 5 to 10 of the Agenda refers).

There Chairman permitted a short delay to the start of the hearing to allow the Applicant to provide an additional more detailed internal plan for the Sub  Committee before the hearing which was provided by the Applicant.  There were no other Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

To consider and determine an Application for a Sexual Entertainment Venue – Venom Nightclub, Quartermaster Road, West Wilts, Trading Estate, Westbury made by Mr Barrie White.  The report of the Public Protection Officer (Licensing) is attached.

Application by Mr Barrie White for a Sexual Entertainment Venue in respect of Venom Nightclub, Quartermaster Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury

Licensing Officer’s Submission

The Sub Committee gave consideration to a report (circulated with the Agenda) in which determination was sought for an application for a Sexual Entertainment Venue presented by Emma Hyde (Public Protection Officer – Licensing).  The application was for the following licensable activities:

·         To provide the following forms of ‘relevant entertainment’ – lap dancing, stage strip-tease and strip shows with full nudity on Wednesday -Saturday from 21:00 to 06:00.

In accordancewith Section 6 of the of Wiltshire Councils Sex Establishment policy, all applications for the grant of a new licence will be determined by the Licensing Committee or a Licensing Sub Committee, irrespective of whether objections are received.

The Licensing Sub Committee is required to take suchsteps listedbelow as it considers necessary. In consideringthe application, the Sub Committee must alsohave regard to relevant Government guidance and the Council’s Sex Establishment Policy.

Such steps are:

1.    Grant the application for a sexual entertainment licence in accordance with the application

2.    Grant the application for a sexual entertainment licence subject to additional and/or varied conditions

3.    Reject the application for a sexual entertainment licence.

The Sub Committee were advised that any conditionsthatareimposedmustbe non-discriminatory,necessaryand proportionate.  Theyshouldnotduplicateorcontradictany conditions that appearon the licenceissuedundertheLicensingAct2003.

Under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Schedule 3 a premise can hold entertainment nights without a licence, providing that they do not exceed one a month. The Venom Nightclub had been operating similar nights to that applied for on an infrequent basis for over 22 years. To date Wiltshire Council had not received any complaints.

No Responsible Authority has made a representation in connection with this application. 

It should be noted that hereisno rightofappealagainsta refusaltogranta licenceforthe reasonsidentified in pa  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.