The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park. Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman ensured that those present were aware of the Fire Evacuation Procedure.

The Chairman opened the meeting by introducing the Sub-Committee and officers present, and also members of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Police and the Respondents.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider a review of the Premises Licence for Merlins, 47 Leysdown Road, Leysdown, Sheerness, Kent ME12 4RB.

Mr Mohammad Bauluck, Licensing Officer, introduced the application which was for a summary review full hearing, plus review of interim steps at Merlins, 47 Leysdown Road, Leysdown, Sheerness.  The review had been applied for by Kent Police and the review interim steps were agreed on Monday 17 July 2017.

The Chairman asked the Sub-Committee and all those present if they were happy for the two parts, (review and interim steps), to be considered together, or separately.  The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) advised that it was common practice if the evidence was the same to deal with both together.  Everyone was happy for the two parts to be considered at the same time.

The Licensing Officer provided some background to the case, outlined on page 2 of the Sub-Committee report.  He explained that on Saturday 9 July 2017 at 01.15hrs there was an incident outside Merlins which resulted in four males being seriously injured.  A meeting had been arranged for 17 July 2017 to discuss interim measures, pending this review, and it was decided to suspend the premises licence with immediate effect, until the CCTV evidence had been provided to the Police in an appropriate format.  On receipt of this, bookings already in place were permitted to go ahead, subject to the conditions outlined on page 3 of the report.

The Licensing Officer drew attention to further papers that had been emailed to the Sub-Committee including letters in support of Merlins, and future proposals from the Premises Licence Holders.  He added that further requirements from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) had also been forwarded and these were tabled at the meeting.

PC Chris Hill, representing Kent Police, gave an overview, and showed the Sub-Committee video footage, of the incident.  He described the serious injuries, which included two cases of GBH and two cases of ABH.  One of those injured was originally classed as having sustained life threatening injuries.  The injuries were no longer life-threatening, but it was too early to say if they were life-changing.  Two suspects had been interviewed, and two were still unidentified.  PC Hill explained that it was fortunate that a Police vehicle was already in the vicinity and this allowed life-saving first aid to be administered.  PC Hill considered that there had been two breaches of the Premises Licence which could have prevented or reduced the seriousness of the incident.  He explained that the door staff had told Police he had seen nothing of the incident, and added that there should have been two SIA registered door supervisors present.  The man on duty that evening was not SIA registered.  If he had been, he would have been able to intervene, and detain the attackers, and would also have been trained in first aid.

PC Hill explained that the video footage had been from a Police camera.  There had been delays in receiving CCTV footage from the premises, which had hindered the investigation.  He confirmed that following the meeting on 17 July 2017, the CCTV  ...  view the full minutes text for item 157.