Agenda item

To consider an application for the review of the Premises Licence held at Martha’s Ale House, Well Lane Guiseley. The application has been made under Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003 by Leeds City Council (Licensing Authority).

Please note – Appendix B of the report is regarded as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to information Procedure Rule 10.4(7) and the provision of Paragraph 14 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings Regulations 2005)

Members of the Licensing Sub Committee considered an application for a review of the Premises License for Martha’s Ale House, Well Lane, Guiseley, Leeds, LS20 9BA.

The application was submitted by the Enforcement and Liaison Section, and Enforcement Officers Ms S. Longfellow, Mr S. Kennedy and Mr M. Waters were in attendance, as well as Ms C. Sanderson of West Yorkshire Police.

The Licensing Sub Committee was asked to pay particular attention to the licensable hours, particularly at the weekend as this was key to the review. Members were told that Martha’s Ale House has the benefit of a Licence that allows for the sale of alcohol until 01.00am on a Friday and Saturday since 2008.

Enforcement Officers told members that the main grounds for the review were based on the premises operating beyond their permitted hours and persistently breaching the terms of their premises licence.  Despite numerous action plans held between the management of Martha’s Ale House and Council Officers, there was evidence that the sale of alcohol was taking place past the licensable hours, and that the premises were frequently operating past 01.00am. 

Concerns were raised regarding CCTV and that the measures that had been put in place were continuously broken resulting in incidents not being captured due to the CCTV coverage, also that Ms D. Waterworth (Designated Premises Supervisor) was unable to operate the equipment to show the Police when the footage had been requested.

Mr P. Wadsworth was present at the hearing as a representative of Leodis Properties and Lordgate Limited, the Premises Licence Holder. Mr Wadsworth informed members that Ms D. Waterworth was no longer the DPS and that a highly experienced DPS, Ms S. La Corte, had now been appointed as the current DPS.

Mr Wadsworth and Ms C. Sanderson of West Yorkshire Police both confirmed that a meeting is taking place on the 24^th April 2014 between the Imaging Unit and Management of Martha’s Ale House to discuss the installation of a new CCTV system and to advise as to where it is best placed to obtain maximum coverage of the premises Mr Wadsworth agreed that the new CCTV system, which must be approved by the Imaging Unit at West Yorkshire Police, would be in place and fully operational no later than the 30^th June 2014.

The Licensing Sub Committee was made aware of a meeting that had taken place on the 24^th March 2014 between officers of Leeds City Council and the management at Martha’s Ale House where a discussion took place and an agreement was made for additional measures and conditions as per Appendix E of the Report to be added to the Premises Licence subject to the agreement of the Licensing Sub Committee. Members were assured by all parties present that if the conditions were agreed, they will be strictly adhered to and if any of the licensing objectives are not met, then the case would be brought back for another review.

Members of the Licensing Sub Committee adjourned to discuss the evidence brought forward by all parties.

RESOLVED: (a) To agree the conditions that have been modified and added to the Premises Licence as per Appendix E of the report.