Agenda and minutes

To seek nominations for the election for the position of Chair.

RESOLVED – To elect Councillor Gibson to the 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 and Scrutiny Support at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against 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.

There were no exempt items.

There were no formal late items. However, supplementary information was published and circulated to all parties prior to the hearing.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory which informs the Licensing Sub Committee of an application for a licence Summary Review made by the West Yorkshire Police in respect of Beaver Works, 36 Whitehouse Street, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 1AD. The application is made on the grounds of serious crime and disorder.

The Licensing Authority is now under a duty to hold a review hearing in accordance with Section 53C of the Licensing Act 2003. This engagement follows interim steps which Members carefully considered on the 15^th December 2023 and resolved to suspend the licence with immediate effect pending the substantive hearing of the review application.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory advised the Licensing Sub-Committee of an application made by West Yorkshire Police under section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003, for the summary review of the premises licence in respect of Beaver Works, 36 Whitehouse Street, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 1AD.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Licensing Sub-Committee were informed by the Licensing Officer that the parties were currently discussing the proposed conditions and measures being offered by the Premises Licence Holder.

Ms Hazlewood of John Gaunt’s & Partners, acting on behalf of the premises licence holder addressed the Licensing Sub-Committee and advised them that all parties wished to delay the meeting for a few minutes whilst they tried to finalise suggested measures and conditions.

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a delay, giving all parties 15 minutes to finalise discussions. The meeting commenced at 10:15.

·  In attendance for this hearing were:

·  PC Andy Clifford, WYP – Review Applicant

·  Dr Sam Fowles, Cornerstone Barrister – Counsel for the Licence Holder

·  Michelle Hazlewood, John Gaunt’s & Partners – Acted on behalf of the Licence Holder up to the hearing

·  Patrick Robson – John Gaunt’s & Partners

·  Graham Higgins – Licence Holder

·  Jonathan Ashley – Witness for the Licence Holder (operational matters)

·  Carol Robinson - Witness for the Licence Holder (operational matters) and submitted a valid representation in support of the venue

·  Richard Dyson - Witness for the Licence Holder (operational matters)

·  Robbie Higgins - observing

The Legal Officer outlined the procedure for the hearing.

Dr Sam Fowles, Counsel for Mr Higgins asked to submit his notes and proposed conditions as information for the Members. The Sub-Committee duly agreed, and the information was circulated. It was noted that the information provided did not have the most recent additions to measures which had been discussed prior to the meeting.

The Licensing Officer provided the Licensing Sub-Committee with the following information:

·  This summary review was brought by West Yorkshire Police and followed an interim steps hearing on the 15 December 2023, where Members had unanimously resolved to suspend the licence with immediate effect pending the substantive hearing of the review application.

·  A history of the premises was set out in the submitted report at Paragraph 2.

·  A copy of the premises licence was attached to the report at Appendix A.

·  The application for a summary review of the premises licence has been sought by West Yorkshire Police. A redacted version of the application was attached at Appendix B.

·  Members were requested to note that in accompaniment of the application a certificate made under section 53(1B) of the Act, which confirms that a Senior Member of West Yorkshire Police was satisfied that these premises are associated with serious crime or serious disorder or both. A redacted version of the certificate was appended to the report at Appendix C.

·  On the 15 December 2023 a hearing for interim steps was considered by Members where it was decided that suspension of the licence with immediate effect pending the substantive hearing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chair said that he was glad to hear that the premises licence holder had responded in a responsible manner and had worked with West Yorkshire Police to address the issues which had resulted in the review application for a well-loved venue. It was the responsibility to do the right thing.

Meeting concluded at 11:55