Councillor DW Greenow was elected as Chairman for the Regulatory Sub-Committee hearing.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for an ‘expedited/summary licence review of the premises licence in respect of ‘Sparkys Bar and Café, 18 West Street, Leominster, HR6 8ES’called by Inspector Robert Barnett.

The regulatory committee was convened in order to determine an application for an expedited review of a premises licence for Sparkys Bar, 18 West Street, Leominster HR6 8ES

The meeting was convened within 48 hours of receipt of the application in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.

The review had been applied for on behalf of Superintendent Susan Thomas, representing West Mercia Police. The review related to the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.

The chairman read out the guidance notes and asked all interested parties to introduce themselves.

The following interested parties were present: Inspector Nick Semper and Jim Mooney, representing the applicant for the review – West Mercia Police. Mr David Wicks, premises licence holder, Mr Alex Griffiths, premises manager and Mr Mark Skinmore of Eyewitness Protection Ltd.

The licensing officer presented the report as per the agenda papers.

Inspector Semper addressed the subcommittee and presented the statement as set out at section four of the application form for a review, as appended in the report included in the agenda papers.

He concluded by stating that the view of the West Mercia Police was that the premises license should be suspended until a full review hearing.

The representative of Eyewitness Protection Ltd who provides security services for Sparkys addressed the committee and made the following points.

Eyewitness Protection commenced security management of the premises in February 2016.  Since February a number of measures have been put in place such as managing and challenging underage drinking on the premises and asking for assistance from the police if ejecting a large number of people. It was also confirmed that the police had been called on occasions when identified problems had been seen approaching the premises. It was confirmed that available CCTV footage had been provided to the police.

In response to a question from the licencing officer as to whether the premises was a night club and if table meals were served, the premises licence holder confirmed that the premises was a bar and no meals were being served.

The licensing officer confirmed that a condition of the licence was that alcohol was only to be served with a meal. The premises licence holder stated that he was not aware of the condition.

The sub-committee retired to make its decision. When the meeting was reconvened the legal adviser to the committee  read out the decision, setting out the interim steps to be taken pending a full review of the premises licence scheduled to take place on Friday 13 May 2016.

RESOLVED:

That the licence be suspended pending a full review on 13 May 2016 at 10:00 clock.