To receive apologies for absence.

To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the committee.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of items on the agenda.

In the opinion of the Proper Officer, the following item will not be, or is likely not to be, open to the public and press at the time it is considered.

RECOMMENDATION:           that under section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as indicated below and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

7       Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

RECOMMENDATION:           that under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, the public be excluded from the meeting as it is considered that the public interest in doing so outweighs the public interest in the hearing, or that part of the hearing, taking place in public.

The Sub-Committee agreed the exclusion of the public consistent with Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.

RESOLVED: that under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, the public be excluded from the meeting as it is considered that the public interest in doing so outweighs the public interest in the hearing, or that part of the hearing, taking place in public.

To consider an application for an expedited review in respect of The Crown & Sceptre Inn, Market Place, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 5NX.

Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee of the council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the members in their agenda published on 4 December 2023.

Prior to making their decision the Principal Licensing Officer presented the report which outlined the options available to the Sub-Committee and members heard representations from PC Dean Wall, the Police Licensing Officer and the representative of the Premises Licence Holder, Mr James Noble. 

Having carefully considered those matters brought before them and in reaching their decision, the Members had full regard to both the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006), the Guidance Issued under Section 182 and Herefordshire Council’s statement of licensing policy. 

DECISION

The Sub-Committees decision was to suspend the licence with immediate effect as an interim step until the full review was held.

REASONS

The Licensing Sub-Committee has heard from the Principal Licensing Officer, West Mercia Police and Mr James Noble Director of Stankerr Pubs Limited, the Premises Licence Holder.

The Sub-Committee has heard the submissions from the Principal Licensing Officer and noted the report and attached documents. The Sub-Committee has noted the contents of the application for a review of the premise licence submitted by West Mercia Police and the representations made by West Mercia Police and their request that the licence be suspended.

The Sub-Committee has paid careful attention to the submissions of Mr Noble on behalf of the Premises Licence Holder and the steps they are willing to take to address the issues identified at the Premises.

The members of the Sub-Committee, having considered all the evidence together, felt that, at this stage, West Mercia Police’s representations were both compelling and credible. 

Therefore, the decision of the Sub-Committee is to suspend the licence as an interim step until the full review is held. This will take effect immediately. The Sub-Committee considers that this action is both appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives and in particular to prevent the undermining of the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.

The matter will be further considered at a review hearing on 21 December 2023 at 2:00 p.m.