To consider a review of the Premises Licence for Talk of the Town, The Promenade, Leysdown on Sea, Kent ME12 4QB.

Report to follow.

Report and Appendices added 2 May 2017.

Mr Mohammad Bauluck, the Licensing Officer, introduced the report which considered the application for a summary review of Talk of the Town, The Promenade, Leysdown by Kent Police, both full review and to review the interim steps taken at the informal meeting of members of the Sub-Committee, the Respondents and Kent Police on 13 April 2017. The Licensing Officer drew attention to Appendix five of the report which set out the interim steps.

PC Chris Hill, representing Kent Police, gave an outline of the events at the Talk of the Town on 8 April 2017 and stressed that it was a serious incident, and part of an ongoing Police investigation.  He advised that there had been four incidents at the premises within the last calendar year, involving fourteen recorded crimes and that Kent Police do monitor the premises.  He added that whilst the number of incidents had been relatively small, the severity of the incidents had escalated and that the premises could be managed more safely with the conditions proposed by Kent Police and agreed with the Licence Holder.

The Solicitor Team Leader (Contentious) clarified that there were variations in the conditions imposed at the interim steps review and the suggested conditions Kent Police had now put forward.  PC Hill explained that the Talk of the Town had closed after the interim steps review as they found some of the conditions imposed were too difficult to implement and manage.  He added that it was not Kent Police’s intention to close the premises but work with the Respondents to put measures in place to reduce crime at the premises.

In response to a Member’s question, PC Hill advised that it was proposed that door security would be provided at the premises from 1900hrs,  for live entertainment provided by the premises, excluding Karaoke.

In response to a question from the Chairman, Mr Prime, the Respondent, confirmed that the premises had been shut since the review as the interim steps could not be implemented at such short notice.

The Respondent explained why the CCTV had not been in operation on the night of the incident, advised that the premises mostly attracted regular customers and families without incident and highlighted the need for more Police patrols in the area.  He went on to explain that staff at the premises would monitor the distribution of pool cues to customers and charge a deposit of £2 to ensure their return.

In summarising, PC Hill explained that the proposed conditions aimed to prevent and reduce the risk of serious incidents at the premises.

The Solicitor Team Leader (Contentious) explained the procedure for considering the full review and the interim steps, and Members of the Sub-Committee, Kent Police and the Respondent all agreed that both should be considered on the basis of the same evidence and in one retirement, unless Members were minded not to follow conditions agreed when there would be an opportunity to comment further.  The Solicitor Team Leader (Contentious) sought clarification on how the site was laid out and more detail on the proposed conditions from Kent Police.

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 11.03am.  Members of the Sub-Committee, the Solicitor Team Leader (Contentious) and the Senior Democratic Services Officer returned at 11.41am, when the meeting was reconvened.

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

Resolved: 

(1)       The Sub-Committee considered the application for summary review of the Premises Licence and decided to modify the conditions of the licence by adding conditions as appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

(2)       The Sub-Committee reviewed the interim steps imposed on 13 April 2017 and agreed to modify those interim steps by modifying conditions of the premises licence as appropriate for promotion of the licensing objectives.