The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer confirmed that the Sub-Committee would comprise Councillors Derbyshire, Jeffree and Mills.

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

                      RESOLVED –

that Councillor Derbyshire be elected Chair for this Hearing.

There were no disclosures of interest.

Report of the Head of Community and Customer Services.

This report asks the Licensing Sub-Committee to consider an application for the extension of the permitted hours during which the above premises can offer licensable activities.

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Head of Community and Customer Services setting out details of an application for the extension of the permitted hours during which the above premises could offer licensable activities. 

The Licensing Officer introduced the report.  The premises was currently known as ‘Beavers’ but it would be changing its name. He outlined the changes in hours sought which were detailed at paragraph 3.6 of the report. Representations had been received from the Police and the Licensing Authority.  Their concerns related to the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety.  The premises was located in the Town Centre and policy LP3 of the Licensing Policy stated that the Sub-Committee’s starting point should be to refuse the application.  The requested hours fell outside those recommended in the Council’s licensing policy LP2.  Further, only 30 minutes, rather than the recommended 60 minutes, was requested for drinking-up time.  The responsibility was on the applicant to demonstrate why the premises should be an exception to the policy.  A mediation meeting had taken place but no resolution had been reached.  Members were not bound by the policy and it was for the Sub-Committee to decide which action available to them was appropriate to promote the licensing objectives.

                   The Licensing Officer added that the Licensing Enforcement Officer would not be attending to present the Licensing Authority’s representation. The concerns were similar to those of the Police and he could also answer any specific queries.

                   Sergeant Mason presented the representation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary.  The grounds for the representation were the likely effects on the night time economy in Watford. He highlighted the key points of the written representation. The Police’s concerns regarding the increase in hours were centred around the potential increase in crime and disorder as the premises would have the latest hours in the town centre for alcohol sales and the latest entry in the town centre.  The Police were concerned about potential issues at 0400, the proposed closing time for licensable activities, when policing resources would be required at the other end of the High Street when other large premises closed.  The potential increase in customers would affect the sustainability of the policing operation.  The Police believed that by granting the application, the public could see the venue as a destination to continue a night out after other premises closed.  The majority of premises in the vicinity closed before last entry at Diamond and Strings.  The venue could be seen as a location for late-night drinking rather than a sexual entertainment venue.  He surmised that the concerns were about the impact on revellers as a whole and how the premises could be used to extend nights out.

                   In response to a question from Councillor Jeffree about last entry times, Sergeant Mason advised that Oceana had the latest last entry time. The other bars in the area closed prior to Diamonds and Strings’ last entry time.  This was a concern to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.