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 advised that the Senior Lawyer had been delayed at court and was running late.  The Sub-Committee adjourned until 3.30pm.

The Chairman opened the meeting by introducing the Sub-Committee and officers present, the representative from Kent Police and the Respondent.

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 an application for a new Premises Licence for the Platinum Bar, 7-11 High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4AY.

The Licensing Officer introduced the application for a new Premises Licence for the Platinum Bar, Sittingbourne.  The application was for the provision of regulated entertainment and the supply of alcohol.  The proposed hours of the licensable activities were outlined on page 2 of the report.  The Licensing Officer explained that representations had been received and these had referred to all four of the licensing objectives.

Mr Jacob Mead-Baker, the Applicant’s representative, advised that he had worked at the Platinum Bar for one year, and had worked hard with Licensing Officers at Swale Borough Council (SBC) and Kent Police.  He considered that he had addressed all that was required of him.

A Member raised concern with the extension of the hours applied for at the premises.

In response to a question, the Senior Lawyer (Contentious) explained that opening hours at the premises were not a licensing activity, it was the live music and supply of alcohol that were licensing activities.

The Applicant’s representative responded to questions from the Sub-Committee.  He explained that the proposed new licensing hours were extended from 1am to 3am, which he considered made the premises a safer environment.  The Applicant’s representative further clarified the opening hours, and some of this was historic, when the premises had been used for out-of-school activities.  He explained that the booths within the premises were a raised area, and that bottles of drink bought for consumption in the booths, were not permitted to be taken out onto the dance floor.

PC Chris Hill explained that he had worked with the Applicant to address issues that the Police had, and he had compiled a list of conditions for the Applicant to comply with.  PC Hill acknowledged the previous crime and disorder activity at the premises which had been raised by representations made to the application, but assured the Sub-Committee that he was content with the current situation, and that the premises would be monitored in the future by Licensing Officers.

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 3.42pm.  Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Lawyer and Democratic Services Officer returned at 4.15pm, when the meeting was reconvened.

The decision as set out in Appendix I to these minutes was announced.

Resolved:  The Sub-Committee agreed to grant the licence as applied for subject to conditions.