Minutes:
Following a request from the Chairman, Mr Dermott provided detailed information regarding three further incidents reported to the Police and the evidence they had collected in respect of these. It was noted that although there was CCTV evidence relating to these incidents on the grounds personal information the Committee had decided not to view it.
In response to questions, Mr Dermott provided clarification in relation to the information he had previously presented to the Committee and the location of the incidents.
In response to the CCTV viewing a Member requested that Ms Safill provide further detailed information, from her perspective, of the related incident. Ms Safill proceeded to do this and explained what she had done to calm down the situation and the resultant barring of the perpetrator. Mr Dermott was also questioned regarding this incident and how the Police felt Ms Safill could have dealt with it differently. In response Mr Dermott detailed the concerns of the Police and reported that they would have expected both parties to have banned. Mr Dermott advised the Committee that the Police objection to this application was not based on one incident.
The Chairman sought comments from the Council’s Environmental Health Officer who was present at the meeting. Prior to hearing this, the Council’s Solicitor advised that the only grounds for objection to the Designated Premises Supervisor were crime and disorder. Any evidence from the Environmental Health Officer must be in relation to disorder and not just noise, as noise itself may not constitute disorder.
The Environmental Health Officer advised that the majority of complaints they had received related to loud music and commented that there had been one specific report of a fight. In response to further questions, the Officer advised that since 2018 27 separate complaints had been received, from a number of persons and some related to disturbance, noise in the street.
The Chairman then asked for closing statements.
Ms Safill advised that she always had the music off by 11:30pm and that karaoke did not take place every week.
Mr Dermott stated that the decision notice issued by this Committee (at the hearing in December) was the action plan that the Police expected to have been put in place in order to reduce the reports of crime and disorder and address the licensing objectives. The Police had to object to this application based on the crime reports and calls for service received since the incident.
Mr Hawkins stated that he saw no reason not to grant this application for Ms Safill to become the Designated Premises Supervisor. In his view she was in control of persons in her pub and he didn’t see why she wasn’t a fit and proper person to carry out this role.
The Chairman advised those present that Members would now adjourn the meeting to discuss the evidence presented and consider their determination. She explained that the Committee would be asking the Council’s Solicitor to join them and advise on their decision.
In respect of her earlier announcement regarding a minutes silence for Grenfell the Chairman advised that this would take place during the adjournment.