Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application received for a Temporary Event Notice served by Mr Merlin Halliday for Safari Afrique, 32 - 34 Assembly Street, Leeds for an event proposed for Saturday 1st April 03:30 until 05:30 hours with a maximum 250 person capacity. The Licensing Authority has received an objection notice from West Yorkshire Police in respect of the TEN.

The Sub Committee considered a Temporary Event Notice for Safari Afrique, 32-34 Assembly Street, Leeds LS2 7DE, which was added to the agenda for the meeting as the event was proposed for 1^st April 2017. As West Yorkshire Police had served an objection notice on the grounds of crime and disorder and public nuisance, the TEN required urgent consideration by the Licensing Authority.

Mr Merlin Halliday, the DPS and Head of Security at the premises attended the Hearing. He was later joined by Mr Alex Vuruku, a Director of the company. PC Cath Arkle represented West Yorkshire Police (WYP).

Mr Halliday outlined his experience of working at the venue and stated that he had previously held a number of temporary events there without complaints or incident. He reported that his main point of contact regarding incidents/issues was with Sgt M Jackson of British Transport Police (BTP) as BTP had jurisdiction over the venue which was based in railway arches. Mr Halliday described recurring issues with groups of youths who congregated adjacent to the venue which he and local traffic wardens had attempted to deal with throughout the day and night.

Mr Halliday explained the TEN was needed to provide an additional two hours for an event planned for 1^st April 2017 when a troupe of dancers from Italy would perform as well as the usual DJ set. The venue usually opened on Fridays and Saturdays until 03:30 hours; this TEN would allow them to stay open until 05:30 hours.

Mr Halliday responded to comments made in the objection notice and stated that he was not aware of all of the incidents referred to and could only deal with matters that were brought to his attention. In respect of the incident on 12 November 2016, Mr Halliday stated that he did remember it. He had been on the door at the time and was present when the police searched an individual who had been in the venue. He stated that the police did not recover a knife or any white powder from that person. However, the police chased another individual who had not been inside the venue and maybe the items were recovered then. In relation to noise complaints, he said that none had been brought to his attention.

During discussions about the nature of incidents, Mr Halliday confirmed that SIA registered doorstaff were employed at the venue, however currently there were no female doorstaff so a full search of female patrons could not be conducted; only bag searches.

PC Arkle then provided a history of crime and disorder and concerns regarding noise associated with the premises. PC Arkle acknowledged that there had been issues regarding communication between WYP and BTP, as the respective computer systems did not easily allow information sharing, however she assured Members that she had discussed this venue and this TEN with Sgt. Jackson. PC Arkle stated that the concerns about the premises were so serious that she was considering the grounds for a Review of the Premises Licence.

PC Arkle concluded that conditions on the licence for the TEN, should it be granted, would not be sufficient as they would not address the issues that already existed within the premises during its substantive hours of operation. She asked that the TEN application be rejected.

The Sub Committee carefully considered the Temporary Event Notice having regard to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and the Section 182 Guidance. Members noted the options available to them. It was a finely balanced decision.

RESOLVED - To allow the Temporary Event Notice.

The Notice will be issued to the applicant by Leeds City Council’s Licensing Department. The event scheduled for 1^st April 2017 at Safari Afrique will now take place. All conditions on the existing licence are to be repeated in full on the Temporary Event Notice.

Members wished to put on record their concern about the lack of a female SIA registered door person such that at the present time only bag searches are carried out for female customers. Members recommended that the applicant gave serious consideration to employing a female SIA door person for this temporary event.