Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report on an application for a variation of an existing premises licence for Ramgarhia Community Centre, Leicester.

Introductions were made and the Chair outlined the procedure the meeting would follow.

The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) was present. PS Pete Colgate was present, accompanied by PS Chris Brown, PC Kim Thomas, PS Rakhi Mistry. Mr TJ Mavani (Licensing Team Manager, Enforcement) and Ms Lorraine Moore (Licensing Enforcement) were present. Also present were the Chief Licensing Officer and the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee.

The Chief Licensing Officer presented the report. It was noted that a representation was received on 26 May 2023 from Leicestershire Police. The representation relates to the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. The representee is concerned that the variation application fails to promote all of the licensing objectives and that due to issues with a recent event at the premises, the police have no faith in the management.

PS Colgate and his team were given the opportunity to outline the details of the police representation and answered questions from members.

The Licensing Team Manager (Enforcement) outlined the reasons for the representation and answered questions from Members and Officers.

The Premises Licence Holder was given the opportunity to put forward his case and address concerns raised by Officers and Leicestershire Police, and answered questions from Members and Officers.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up their positions and make any final comments.

The Sub-Committee received legal advice from the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee in the presence of all those present.

In reaching their decision, Members felt they should deliberate in private on the basis that this was in the public interest, and as such outweighed the public interest of their deliberation taking place with the parties represented present.

The Chair announced that the decision and reasons made during private deliberation would be publicly announced in writing within five working days. The Chair informed the meeting that the Legal Adviser to the Sub-committee would be called back to give advice on the wording of the decision.

The Chair then asked all but Members of the Sub-Committee and Democratic Support Officers to leave the meeting. The Sub-Committee then deliberated in private to consider their decision.

The Sub-Committee recalled the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee to give advice on the wording of the decision.

RESOLVED:

That the application for a variation of an existing Premises Licence for Ramgarhia Community Centre, Ulverscroft Road, Leicester be REFUSED.

Reasons for the decision:

Members accepted the written representations submitted by Leicestershire Police and the Licensing Enforcement Team. Members accepted the evidence of PS Chris Brown regarding the incidents on 20^th and 21^st May 2023 and the breaches of the premises licence conditions. Members also accepted the evidence of PC Thomas.

Members accepted that Mr Sanghera had been put on notice regarding his responsibilities following an email from Licensing Enforcement Team on 27^th April. Further, during the course of 20^th May and 21^st May he could have taken steps to ensure the conditions of the premises licence were not breached following direct contact with him by the Police.

In light of the of the incidents on 20^th and 21^st May 2023 and Mr Sanghera’s subsequent responses in meetings with the Police and the Licensing Enforcement team. The sub-committee had no confidence in Mr Sanghera’s ability to promote the licensing objectives and members were particularly disturbed by Mr Sanghera’s refusal to take responsibility for the licensable activities beyond the running of the bar.