Agenda and draft minutes

The Panel is requested to elect a Chairperson for the hearing in line with rules agreed by the Licensing and Safety Committee. 

Councillor Howcroft-Scott was elected Chairperson for this meeting.

There were none.

To agree that the Chairperson, after consultation with the other members of the Panel, sign the record of this meeting outside the meeting. 

It was agreed that the Chairperson, after consultation with the other members of the Panel, would sign the record of this meeting outside the meeting. 

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 5.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

To consider a new premises application for Retail Unit 2, Chatham Waters, Gillingham Gate Road, Gillingham following the submission of a representation, received during the consultation period.

Discussion:

The Chairperson explained the process that the hearing would follow.

The Licensing Officer informed the Panel that the applicant had applied for a new Premises Licence at Retail Unit 2, Chatham Waters, Gillingham Gate Road, Gillingham. All responsible authorities had been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and representations had been received from two members of the public and no representations had been received from the responsible authorities.

The new premises licence application was for the sale by retail of alcohol (on sales) Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 23:00.

The Panel were informed that conditions had been agreed with Trading Standards and these were set out in Appendix C to the supplementary agenda. Additional evidence had been submitted by the applicant and was set out in Appendix D to the supplementary agenda.

The Chairperson invited the applicant to speak in support of their application.

The Panel were informed that the premises operated under the name District KCL and was part of Larry’s Mobile Bar Group which Mr Tulloch had operated since 2020, with experience in the hospitality industry and as a personal licence holder for 20 years.

Mr Tulloch explained that he had managed numerous events with no issues and any suggestions such as Challenge 25 and staff training had been taken on board. The Panel were informed that Mr Tulloch wanted to be a good neighbour and operate and safe, responsible and professionally operated venue.

The Panel were informed that concerns expressed over a previous incident related to an under 18’s party which was an isolated incident where a teenager had shared the event on social media. As a result, a number of young people had attended uninvited and when they were refused entry they had caused an issue outside the premises.

Mr Tulloch explained that lessons had been learned from this and new procedures had been introduced including enhanced security staff for under 18 parties or high attendance parties, the use of guest lists and wrist bands and reduced capacity for under 18 events. The Panel were also informed that CCTV, Challenge 25 and staff training were in place, and the doors were kept closed to prevent any noise nuisance.

The Panel were shown two short video recordings including the date and time when an event was taking place to show that there was not an issue with audible media coming from the venue during an event with the doors closed.

The Chairperson noted the written objections that had been included at Appendix B to the report and that the objectors were not in attendance.

The Panel queried whether the event that had caused concern had taken Mr Tulloch by surprise and he confirmed that the post on social media which led to uninvited guests was a total surprise. The Panel were informed that as a result SIA security staff were now compulsory for under 18 parties, guest numbers were limited to 50 and guestlists and wristbands were used to ensure that only invited guests  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

It is recommended that the Panel exclude the press and public from the meeting during the decision-making process for the reasons set out in the report. 

Decision:

The press and public were excluded from the meeting during the Panel’s deliberations and decision making in respect of agenda item 6, because consideration of this matter in public would disclosure information falling within paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as specified in agenda item 7 Exclusion of the Press and Public) and, in all the circumstances of the case, the Panel considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.