Agenda and minutes

            Resolved – That Councillor Vera Tomlinson Chair this meeting of the Panel.

(Councillor Tomlinson took the Chair.)

            The Panel considered (a) a report of the Council’s Licensing Officer setting out a request from Wiltshire Constabulary for a review of the Premises Licence for Casbah, John Street, Swindon, (b) oral representations from Wiltshire Constabulary in support of their application for review, (c)  representatives from Mr. Nigel Musgrove (Solicitor to Casbah) and management opposing the review, (d) questions from Members to both parties and the answers received, and (e) the Council’s procedure for licensing hearings, Government Guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.                    Resolved  - After considering: -

The application to review the licence made by the Police; and

Representations and material put forward on behalf of the Licensee on their own behalf and those of their Solicitor;

And taking into account: -

The Secretary of State’s Guidance; and

The Licensing Authority Licensing Statement:

And having in mind the promotion of the Licensing Objectives in particular: -

The prevention of crime and disorder;

The Panel has determined the following: -

1.  The sale of Alcohol and other licensable activities at Casbah, John Street Swindon, be amended to 11:00 to 03:00 hours for activities commencing on Saturdays with a last entry time for 02:00 hours for activities commencing on Saturdays.

Reasons

i.  The Panel considered evidence from the Police and from the management and solicitor to Casbah in relation to incidents occurring at the premises and in particular after 02:00am on Saturday/Sunday morning.  The Panel having carefully weighed the evidence from both parties accepted that, on balance, there were licensing concerns after 02:00 hours.  The Panel having taken the management of the premises into account and door and bar staff training, considered that further action was required and that a proportionate response was to address the primary problem occurring after 02:00 hours on activities commencing on Saturdays and that a reduction in time of admission and licensing hours was the appropriate measure to ensure the Crime and Disorder Licensing Objective was not undermined.

ii. The Panel recognised that incidents were occurring outside of this core trading  time but determined that with the imposition of other conditions and the level of incidents occurring that any further reduction of hours at this time would be disproportionate.

2. That the condition relating to door staff presently on the licence shall be amended to include a minimum of four door staff be employed from 02:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.  During these hours there shall be a minimum of two door staff on the entrance, one monitoring the smoking area and one roaming the bar areas and toilets.  During these times and at all other times the level of door staff shall be risk assessed in line with the current condition.

Reasons

i.  The addition of a condition for a minimum number door staff on Fridays is necessary to address the heightened risk of incidents leading to Crime and Disorder.  The Panel reached this determination after weighing up the material presented by both parties and determining on balance that this condition was necessary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.