Agenda item - Application for a review of Premises Licence - Golden Cross Public House, High Street, Bromsgrove.

Agenda item

Application for a review of Premises Licence - Golden Cross Public House, High Street, Bromsgrove.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a review of a Premises Licence in respect of The Golden Cross Public House, High Street, Bromsgrove. The application was subject to a Hearing in the light of a letter of objection from the West Mercia Police,(a Responsible Authority under the Licensing Act 2003 to review the above licence), in which they expressed their grave concern over the sale and supply of Class A drugs on the premises, and that, accordingly, they had undertaken an undercover operation at the premises over a period. A Report from the Head of Planning and Environment Services setting out the background of events had been previously circulated with the agenda for the Meeting.

 

P.C.355 Paul Bott put forward the case for the Police to the Sub-Committee, but, in doing so, reported that since submitting their application for a review, a number of changes had been introduced at the premises by the owners (J.D. Wetherspoon) including a number of measures recommended by the Police, and he  was satisfied that the maintaining of these measures would help the premises to better comply with their overall Licence conditions.

 

Mr. James Rankin, Legal Representative for Wetherspoons, put forward their case to the Sub-Committee.

 

Following consideration of the representations put forward by all parties, which was followed by a general question and answer session, the Sub-Committee adjourned to consider their decision. Upon their return, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  that it be noted with approval that P.C. Bott, Licensing Officer, had now been able to build up a rapport with the new Designated Premises Supervisor (Mr. Hatton), and that the Police believe that, with the imposition of the suggested conditions referred to in the Report being added  to the Licence, the premises would run smoothly;

(2)  that, in addition, the Sub-Committee recognised the positives which had come out of the discussion on this case, and noted in particular the following actions that  Wetherspoons had referred to in their submission, namely

(i)  a vast improvement to the standard of the CCTV equipment to be installed on the premises;

(ii)  the change of emphasis to promote food instead of alcohol;

(iii) the continuation of Drug-Awareness Workshops for staff;

(iv) the regular checking by staff of “zoned areas” within the pub;

(v) visits to the licensed premises by Senior Managers and/or “mystery shoppers.” and

(vi) on a general note, that all Area Managers were to be instructed to telephone the Police every four weeks to check that there were no problems;

(3) accordingly, for the reasons noted above, and in order to support the licensing objective of prevention of crime and disorder, the Sub-Committee agree that the following licensing conditions proposed by J.D. Wetherspoon and agreed by the Police be added to the licence, i.e.

(i)  with the exception of the beer garden there will be no smoking anywhere on the premises to which the public have access;

(ii) the premises will be equipped with a CCTV system which meets the approval of the West Mercia Constabulary;

(iii) there will be two SIA registered door staff on each entrance on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 20.00 hours until close, unless otherwise agreed with West Mercia Constabulary. Any agreement of this nature will be recorded in writing and kept on the premises; and

(iv)  the Designated Premises Supervisor (i.e., the Pub Manager) or his Co-Manager will attend meetings of the Pubwatch scheme. If either are unable to attend for any reason, the Designated Premises Supervisor will contact the Police by telephone as soon as reasonably practicable for an update on the matters discussed at the meeting; and

(4)  that Members wished to record their extreme concern over the necessity for the  Police  to have to mount an undercover operation at these premises, and requested that the most senior personnel in Wetherspoons be made aware that the Sub-Committee were dissatisfied with the answers from their middle-management personnel present at the Hearing as to their (lack of) awareness of any drug activity on site.

 

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