Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor Armitage be elected Chair of the meeting

1)  To highlight reports or appendices which:

a)  officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

b)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

c)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information

2) To note that under the Licensing Procedure rules, the press and the public will be excluded from that part of the hearing where Members will deliberate on each application  as it is in the public interest to allow the Members to have a full and frank debate on the matter before them.

The Sub Committee felt that the hearing should be held in the public domain and agreed that wherever possible, specific reference to the contents of the exempt information contained within Appendix B of the report should not be referred to, however if it became necessary, the public and press would be excluded from the meeting  as follows:

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of that part of the agenda designated as exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as contained in Appendix B of the report referred to in minute 20 both in terms of Regulation 14 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearing Regulations 2005) and the Licensing Procedure Rules, and on the grounds that it is not in the public interest to disclose the contents as the information therein pertains to an individual and that person would not reasonably expect their personal information or discussions thereon to be in the public domain.

To identify any applications as late items of business which have been admitted to the agenda for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be identified in the minutes)

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda

Members are reminded to declare any interests at the start of the hearing on each application for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of interest

To consider the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration on an application made under Section 2 and Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for the grant of a sex establishment licence for premises known as Red Leopard, 163/167 The Headrow, Leeds LS1, to be used as a sexual entertainment venue

PLEASE NOTE Appendix B of the report is exempt from publication under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1, 2 & 3)

The Licensing Sub Committee considered the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration on an application made under Section 2 (Schedule 3) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for the grant of a sex establishment licence. The application was made by The application was made by Fellmore Limited of Suite 1, 3rd Floor, Jubilee Chambers, 163/167 The Headrow, Leeds for the premises known as `Red Leopard’, 163/167 The Headrow, Leeds LS1. The basement, ground and first floors are to be covered under the provisions of the licence with the proposed hours of operation are 00:00 until 00:00 (24hours) seven days per week.

Appendix B of the report was exempt from publication under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1, 2 & 3), and Regulation 14 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearing Regulations 2005) however the Sub Committee resolved not to specifically discuss the exempt information to allow the hearing to be held in public.

The application had attracted a total of 40 objections, including 9 from elected members plus one from a member of parliament. A further objection from a different member of parliament was received marginally outside the 28 day period but as this was believed to be due to a delay caused by the postal system had been included within the documentation. No objectors attended the hearing, although several observers were in attendance, and the Sub Committee resolved to consider their written submissions in their absence and proceed with the hearing.

Present at the hearing were

The Sub Committee heard from Mr Skeens on behalf of the applicant who drew Members attention to relevant matters as he saw them including the location and external appearance of the venue, layout and policies submitted by the applicant. Mr Skeens highlighted that 3 letters in support of the application had been submitted but that these had been received out of time. He then addressed the following points:

• the leasehold history of the premises and current management arrangements
• the work previously undertaken in Leeds to draw up the Statement of Licensing Policy
• the development business plan submitted by the applicant, including details of the Employee Welfare Policy and Code of Practice
• advertising methods and security in terms of door staff and CCTV system

Mr Skeens also addressed the comments contained in the written objections and commented that most related to the principle of such establishments on moral grounds or appeared to seek to revisit the Statement of Licensing Policy already adopted by the Authority. Mr Skeens stated that just one objection was specific to Red Leopard with regards to the  location of the venue adjacent to a bus stop on a busy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.