Agenda and minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters under consideration.

None.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on Tuesday 19 November.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on Tuesday 19 November were confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Environment.

The Director of Environment submitted a report asking the Committee to agree the Gambling Policy 2025-2028. The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report.

Decision

The Licensing Committee approved the draft Statement of Gambling Policy (Appendix 1) and agreed to refer the draft Statement of Gambling Policy to the next available meeting of the full Council, with a recommendation that it be adopted.

Report of the Director of Environment.

Papers to follow.

The Committee agreed to proceed with the hearing in the absence of the applicant and objector.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report. He explained that the three submitted temporary event notices sought to amend the premises’ existing licensing (premises licence PL(A)0342) to extend entertainment and the sale of alcohol from 3am to 4am on the following dates: the 13^th, 14^th, 20^th, 21^st, 25^th, 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, 31^st of December as well as the 1^st of January 2025.

The Chair, Councillor Birch confirmed that the police had objected to the temporary event notice. However, the conditions set out by Wyre Council and Lancashire Constabulary had since been agreed by the premises user.

The Senior Licensing Officer addressed concerns from councillors. These concerns related to the Lancashire Constabulary’s objection included at appendix 3, where they raised that if the notice was granted, the premises would have been able to conduct licensable activities until 4am without providing SIA registered door staff or CCTV. The Senior Licensing Officer, confirmed that the temporary event notices, would override the existing license, and for door staff to be required, that condition would have to be reapplied onto the notices.

The Senior Solicitor provided clarification for members. She addressed that the Licensing Act 2003 did not allow for conditions to be applied to a temporary event notice unless done so via an objection and the decision of the Licensing Committee.

Councillor Minto commented that regardless of time it would be difficult for the police to monitor behaviour at the venue due to limited staffing.

Councillor Nicholls raised concerns over the premise being allowed to sell alcohol for an extra hour.

In response to a question from Councillor Rushforth, the Senior Solicitor stated that as the police were happy to allow the extra hour of use, subject to conditions, the committee would be required to produce evidence to go against their advice.

Discussions were had by councillors in response to Councillor Nicholls concern on how conditions were going to be enforced.

In reaching its decision, the Committee had regard to:

1. The Licensing Act 2003 (the Act),

2. The Guidance published by the Secretary of State under s182 of the Act,

3. The Council’s Licensing Policy

Decision

The Licensing Committee considered their options and noted that Lancashire Constabulary were content for the additional hour of trading if the conditions on the premises licence were added onto the temporary event notice under section 106A Licensing Act 2023. The premises user put forward no objections to the conditions being added. As the Police are the Committee’s experts in crime and disorder, and temporary events are meant to be a light touch licensing regime, the Licensing Committee decided that whilst it would not to give a counter notice to prevent the event going ahead, it was appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives to add the conditions attached to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.