Agenda and minutes

            Resolved – That Councillor Richard Hurley Chair this meeting of the Panel.

(Councillor Hurley took the Chair.)

            The Panel considered (a) a report of the Council’s Licensing Officer setting out details of an application  Wiltshire Police for a review of the Premises Licence for Longs Bar, Old Town, Swindon, (b) oral representations from Wiltshire Police in support of their application for a review, (c)  representatives from the management of Longs Bar opposing the review, (d) questions from Members to the applicants and the Police and the answers received, and (e) the Council’s procedure for licensing hearings, Government Guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

            Resolved - The Panel considered The Licensing Objectives, Secretary of State’s Guidance, representations made by Wiltshire Police and representations by the management of Longs Bar.

The Panel considered the sale of alcohol to minors to be very serious and carefully considered whether suspension of the premises licence was apprpriate.

However, given the Licensee’s previous good record, their co-operation with police, new management systems put in place following the failed test purchase and the Panel’s view that the imposition of conditions would be effective the Panel decided not take any further action on this occassion.

The Panel therefore imposed the following conditions:

 1. - The premises will have a minimum of 2 SIA registered door supervisors on a Friday and Saturday evening and door staff provision on other evenings be established  on a risk assessed basis.  The door supervisors will wear high visibility clothing at all times.

Reason

To prevent breaches of the Licensing Objectives in respect of the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and the Prevention of Public Nuisance.

2. -  No persons under 18 shall be allowed into the premises after 9 p.m. unless accompanied by an adult.

Reason

To prevent breaches of the Licensing Objectives in respect of the Protection of Children from Harm.

3. -  A Challenge 25 policy will apply to the premises and all staff serving alcohol shall be trained in the operation of the scheme so that anyone attempting to buy alcohol who appears to be aged 25 or under will be asked for identification of age in the form of either a valid passport, photo driving licence, government issued identity card, or PASS accredited card or its equivalent successor card, and if none is supplied or that supplied is unacceptable,  a sale will be refused and a record kept of the refusal. Staff selling alcohol will be subject to refresher training every 3 months and records of training shall be kept. Records of refusals and training shall be made available to enforcement officers on request.

Reason

To prevent breaches of the Licensing Objectives in respect of the Protection of Children from Harm and the Prevention of Crime and Disorder.