The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer confirmed that the Sub-Committee would comprise Councillors J Brown, G Derbyshire and J Connal.

                   The Sub-Committee was asked to elect a Chair for the Hearing.

                   RESOLVED –

                   that Councillor J Brown be elected Chair for this Hearing.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Head of Community and Customer Services setting out details of an application for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) in respect of the Disco bar at Oceana.

                   The Licensing Officer introduced the report.  He explained that the application was to permit the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshments from 0300 to 0600 on 21 December 2014 in the Disco bar.  The bar would then close at 0630.  One representation had been received from Hertfordshire Constabulary on the basis of the prevention of crime and disorder and this was set out at Appendix 1.  A mediation meeting had taken place during the previous week but no agreement had been reached.  He outlined the options available to be Sub-Committee and noted that as the Applicant was proposing to adhere to the conditions already on his licence, no additional conditions could be imposed.

                   Inspector Lillitou introduced his representation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary.  He explained that the Police were concerned about the TEN ending at 0600.  The premises had had previous TENs which had presented few issues. However, these had been on Sunday evening to Monday morning rather than a Saturday evening to Sunday morning as in this case.  There would be more people in the town centre on a Saturday night.  He noted that the premises was already open until 0400 on these nights.  There would be an impact on local residents as patrons left the premises at a later time.  An application had been launched to establish a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in the Albert Road South area in order to reduce levels of nuisance overnight.  He did not wish to imply a link with Oceana but it was an area where people congregated and the Police were seeking to reduce nuisance and antisocial behaviour.

                   Inspector Lillitou stated that his second area of concern related to dispersal.  People tended to leave the town centre from midnight and Oceana was the last to close.  The Policing operation was stood down around 0430.  There had never been an application like this before and the impact on public order was difficult to predict.  It was not clear what level of policing operation might be required.  He was concerned that customers would have had the opportunity to consume alcohol for the entire night.  He noted that the routes out of the town centre were predominantly residential.  Public transport at this time was limited; there were no trains in either direction until after 0700 and the bus provision was similar.   Resources would need to be found to Police the extended time which could be costly.

                   Inspector Lillitou added that crime has risen in town between 1 April 2014 and 21 November 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.  There had been more assaults and more incidents of criminal damage.  He was concerned that there was the potential to increase crime levels.  He would be reluctant to leave the town without a Police presence, as was sometimes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.