Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED – That Councillor Buckley 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 and Scrutiny Support 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.

The agenda contained no exempt items.

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda. However supplementary information in respect of agenda item 6 “Application for the grant of a premises licence for Crossgates and District Recreation Hall” had been submitted by the applicant and distributed to Members prior to the meeting. The information was also published to the Council’s website.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The report of the Chief Officer (Elections and Regulatory) requests Member’s consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence for Crossgates and District Recreation Hall, Poplar Avenue, Crossgates, LS15 8EB

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer (Elections and Regulatory) introduced an application for the grant of a premises licence for Crossgates and District Recreation Hall, Poplar Avenue, Crossgates Leeds LS15 8EB.

Supplementary information provided by the applicants had been distributed prior to the meeting.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Peter Freeman, Club Director
• Nigel Thompson, Club Chair
• David Ward, Club Secretary

The Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee set out the procedure to be followed, and the Principal Licensing Officer outlined the application.

The premises currently holds a Club Premises Certificate (details of activities and hours can be seen at point 2.1 of the submitted report) and the application sought a premises licence for the following:

• Sale by retail of alcohol (for consumption both on and off the premises) – Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 00:00
• Provision of live music; recorded music; plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling entertainment, performance of dance – Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 00:00
• Non-standard timings –

- New Year’s Day to 02:00

- Bank Holiday weekends (Fri to Mon inclusive) to 01:00

- Christmas Eve and Boxing Day to 01:00

It was noted that the application had not attracted a formal representation from any of the responsible authorities. However discussions had taken place with West Yorkshire Police which had led the applicant to accept a number of additional conditions, consistent with the transition from Club Premises Certificate to a Premises Licence.

The application attracted a representation submitted by Cross Gates Watch Residents’ Association. No person on behalf of the association attended the hearing and the Sub Committee considered the written submission in their absence.

The Club Chair addressed the Sub-Committee; explaining the reasons behind the application – to secure future trading of the club, provision of functions and ability to use the function room more widely, including for non-Members, and to provide flexibility. Mr Thompson provided an overview of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the Club’s trading and an overview of the Club’s long history.

The Club’s representatives outlined the consultation they had undertaken in terms of leafleting local residents and ‘open days’ to discuss the application and reported receipt of no adverse comments. In terms of the representation submitted by the Residents’ Association, the Sub Committee received assurance that it was not intended that the provision of boxing/wrestling would be used, as reconfiguration of the premises would be required – however all of the licensable activities applied for were to provide flexibility and to future proof the business.

The Club’s representatives further clarified:

·  The premises licence would allow the upstairs function room to be more widely available and be used as a community asset.

·  Those booking a function would undergo vetting, as is the case currently and detail was provided on the vetting process.

·  Although the function room capacity was 200, functions of up to 150 attendees were anticipated. Functions which may exceed 150 attendees would be ticketed.

·  The Clubs current policy of not hosting 18^{th  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.}