Agenda and minutes
PDF 181 KBVenue: Civic Hall, Leeds
Contact: Governance Services Copies of the full report with appendices are available on request from the clerk. For details of the new premises licence please contact Entertainment Licensing on 0113 2474095 after the hearing.
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Election of the Chair Minutes: RESOLVED – Councillor Harland was elected Chair for the duration of the hearing.
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Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents 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)
Minutes: There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.
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Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public
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. Minutes: Under the provisions of Paragraph 14 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearing Regulations 2005) and under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1, 2, 3) Appendix B was designated as exempt information.
A reporter from the Yorkshire Evening Post was present at the hearing however, the Sub Committee did not specifically discuss the exempt information therefore there was no reason to exclude the reporter from any parts of the hearing.
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Late Items 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)
Minutes: There were no formal late items. However, supplementary information had been sent to all parties prior to the hearing.
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Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
Minutes: Councillor Khan disclosed that he had been part of the working party that had approved the Licensing of Sex Establishments Statement of Licensing Policy.
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To consider the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration on an application received for the Renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for the premises known as Silks, 2 Sovereign Place, Leeds, LS1 4SP
Please Note: Appendix B of the report is regarded as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1, 2 & 3) Additional documents:
Minutes: Present at the hearing were
For Silks Mr Tony Lyons, Kuits Solicitors - solicitor representing the applicant Elizabeth Morris, Director of Red Carpet Leisure (Leeds) Ltd Maria Cunningham, Manager and Designated Premises Supervisor of Silks Eina Kosma – Interior designer and planner for Silks
For City Development Christine Addison, Chief Asset Management and Regeneration Officer on behalf of Martin Farrington Director of City Development
Observers Mary Cooney Jane Cash
Press Yorkshire Evening Post
Members considered the renewal of a sex establishment licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing.
The renewal application was for ‘Silks’, which operates from 2 Sovereign Place, Leeds LS1 4SP. The current licence was issued for a period of eight months, expiring on 30th June 2014, pending the commencement of redevelopment works to the area.
The applicant was seeking to further renew the licence as the works, which included the creation of open green space, have not yet commenced.
The officer from the Licensing Entertainment Section outlined the application to the Sub-Committee providing background information as set out at paragraph 2.0 of the submitted report.
The Licensing Sub-Committee were informed that at the previous renewal hearing for Silks on 19th November 2013 the Council’s Development Department had set out their objection to the renewal application. The grounds for that objection were that the area was subject to a redevelopment programme which included the provision of an open green space. Members had heard in November 2013 that the redevelopment programme was not set to commence imminently and therefore the renewal application for Silks was approved until 4.00am on 30th June 2014.
The licensing officer informed Members that one of the options available to them included being able to renew the licence for 12 months or less if they were so minded.
The Sub-Committee then heard from Mr Lyons on behalf of the applicant, whose presentation included the following points:
Silks had been operating as a lap dancing bar for approaching 6 years without any concerns to responsible authorities.
Mr Lyons drew Members attention to the Licensing of Sex Establishments Statement of Licensing Policy highlighting that the overriding principle of the policy states that each SEV application shall be determined on individual merits.
Mr Lyons also referred to and quoted from the ‘Amplified Reasons for Decision’ that had been published in relation to Wildcats and Deep Blue in refusing to renew their SEV licences and which included commentary on Silks.
Members were informed that Silks currently operates;
10:00pm until 4:00am Sunday to Thursday 10:00pm until 5:00am Friday and Saturday
Silks has the benefit of an alcohol premises licence. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest with up to 300 customers entering the premises. The Committee were informed that Silks has 25 staff, and 30 dancers.
The public notice advertising the application was displayed at the premises and in the local press, with no objections being received from women’s groups, ward councillors, or the police.
Mr Lyons referred the Committee to ... view the full minutes text for item 31. |