Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor G Hussain be elected Chair for the duration of the Meeting

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of Inspection of Documents

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.

RESOLVED –That the press and public would be excluded from that part of the proceedings where Members deliberate the applications received in respect of the premises known as Liberté, Red Leopard, Purple Door, Silks, Deep Blue and Wildcats as it is in the public interest to allow the Members to have full and frank debate on the matter, as allowed under the provisions of the Licensing Procedure Rules. It was further noted that the applications had been dealt with at public hearings held between Monday 18^th November and Friday 22^nd November 2013 where members of the public had been advised that decisions on the applications would be made available once all applications for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence authorising the activity of sexual entertainment to be issued under Section 2 and Schedule 3 of the terms of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (“the Act”)

Members are reminded to disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests at the start of the hearing on each application for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest

To determine applications for the renewal of Sex Establishment Licences within the City and Hunslet ward previously heard by this Sub Committee on 18^th November, 19^th November, 21^st November and 22^nd November 2013 respectively.

Please note that under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1,2 and 3) the deliberations of the Sub Committee will be held in closed session, the hearings having already been dealt with in open session

The Sub Committee convened to deliberate on applications heard previously for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence authorising the activity of sexual entertainment for six premises located within Leeds City centre

Members confirmed at the outset of each individual hearing, that one of the Members of the Sub Committee had been on the Licensing Committee working group which had made recommendations in relation to the Council’s Licensing of Sexual Establishments Statement of Licensing Policy (“the Policy”).  They also confirmed that all Members of the Sub Committee would consider all of the applications with open minds.

In reaching their decisions the Sub Committee considered and took into account all representations made, and all documentation submitted, including:

1  The reports from the Head of Licensing and Registration

2  The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009, and relevant guidance.

3  The Sex Establishment Statement of Licensing Policy

4  All information submitted by the Applicants, including any supplemental information.

5  The objections received and any letters in support

6  Local knowledge including local issues and cultural sensitivities (as referred to in paragraph 8.25 of the Policy).

The Sub Committee had regard to the following issues which were general to all six applications:

·  Planning

·  Policies and Codes of Conduct for Employees, dancers and customers

·  Issues of non-compliance

·  West Yorkshire Police

·  Impact of the decisions to grant a licence in June 2012 in relation to these applications

·  Objections

·  Letter of Support

·  The changes that had occurred since the grant of the initial licences in June 2012, including the approval of the Policy, Leeds being designated a child friendly city and the opening of Leeds Trinity and the Leeds Arena in March and July 2013 respectively

After lengthy deliberations the Sub Committee adjourned the meeting with a view to reconvening at a later date. It was agreed the meeting would

re-convene on Tuesday 3^rd December 2013 at 1.30pm.

Tuesday 3^rd December 2013

The meeting re-convened

(Present Councillors; G Hussain, C Townsley and A Khan

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee’s decision in relation to each application be as follows:-

Purple Door

The Sub Committee noted the very late letter received by the Head of Licensing and Registration on 28 November 2013 offering to adjust he opening hours of the premises.

The Sub Committee decided to grant the renewal of the licence in relation to Purple Door based on paragraph 7.17 of the Policy.

The Policy states at paragraph 7.17: “Taking into consideration all the matters mentioned in this section the appropriate number of SEVs (sexual entertainment venues) in the city centre is a maximum of four providing those premises were not near properties with sensitive uses or in sensitive locations”.

The cap of four premises in the Policy meant that the applicant’s premises fell within this number when compared with others and their closeness to sensitive locations.

The Sub Committee decided to grant the renewal of the licence for 12 months from 1 October 2013  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.