Agenda item

Report attached. A copy of the associated documentation is attached for Members only. Further copies are available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Democratic Support on 454 6354.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report that required Members to determine an application to renew a sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009, for Chasers Gentlemen’s Club, 15 Free Lane, Leicester, LE1 1JX.

Mr Davinder Singh Grewal (Managing Director for Chaser Grill Services Limited), Mr Gerard McGeachey (Business Partner) and legal representative were present. Ms Helen Everett an objector was in attendance. The Licensing Team Manager and Legal Representative to the Sub-Committee were also present.

Introductions were made and the procedure for the meeting outlined.

The Licensing Team Manager outlined the details of the application and answered questions from Members. A further reference received was circulated to the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee, to the Members and to the objector.

The legal representative for Mr Grewal and Mr McGeachey was given the opportunity to state their case and answered questions from Members and the objector.

Ms Everett was given the opportunity to state the objections to the application and answered Members questions.

Ms Everett was then given the opportunity to sum up their position and make any final comments.

The legal adviser on behalf of the applicant was then given the opportunity to sum up their position and make any final comments.

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

The Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee, the Licensing Team Manager, Mr Grewal, Mr McGeachey and their legal representative, and Ms Everrett then withdrew from the meeting.

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 all the parties present.

Members then gave the application full and detailed consideration.

The Solicitor to the Sub-Committee was recalled to give advice to the Sub-Committee on the wording of the decision.

The Licensing Team Manager, Mr Grewal, Mr McGeachey and their legal representative, and Ms Everrett then returned to the meeting.

The Chair informed all persons present that the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee had been recalled to give advice to the Sub-Committee on the wording of their decision.

RESOLVED:

That the application for the renewal of a sexual entertainment venue licence for Chasers Gentlemen’s Club, 15 Free Lane, Leicester, LE1 1JX be GRANTED.

The Sub-Committee had been asked to determine an application by Chaser Grill Services Limited to renew a SEV licence. The Sub-Committee stated they had considered the matter on its own merits and in accordance with the licensing authority’s Policy on the Licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues.

In reaching their decision, Members had carefully considered the committee report, the presentation by the Licensing Team Manager, all representations submitted by the applicant, the objection to the application and the legal advice provided during the hearing.

As a result of what they had heard, the decision of the Sub-Committee was to renew the licence in accordance with the application.

REASON FOR THE DECISION

The Sub-Committee believed that the applicant was a suitable and proper person to hold a SEV licence. The Sub-Committee were of the opinion that if the licence were to be granted the business to which it related would not be managed or carried on for the benefit of a person, other than the applicant, who would be refused the grant of a licence if he made the application himself and as such were content in this regard.

It was noted there were currently three SEVs including Chasers that had currently been licenced, and as such the application was in accordance with Leicester City Council’s licensing policy of Sexual Entertainment Venues, which had been considered for the purposes of the hearing.

With regards to the character of the relevant locality the Sub-Committee were content that the SEV was situation on the edge of an area associated with the night time economy and although there were residential premises and office premises and the City Hall within the location, the Sub-Committee were content that the discreet location of the venue alleviated any concerns that could be raised.

The Sub-Committee were content with the layout of the premises and did not feel that any conditions other than standard conditions were necessary, and for the reasons given decided to grant the renewal of the application.