Agenda and minutes

Licensing Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 5th December, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Governance Services  Agenda papers will be published on the Council’s website ahead of each meeting. For details of the new premises licence please contact Entertainment Licensing on 0113 378 5029 after the hearing.

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of the Chair

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To elect Cllr Downes as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

2.

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 and Scrutiny Support at least 24 hours before the meeting)

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

3.

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:

There were no exempt items.

4.

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, there was supplementary information in relation to:

·  Agenda Item 7 - Application for the Renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for Purple Door, 5 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR and

·  Agenda Item 8 - Applications for the Transfer of Premises Licence and the Variation of Premises Licence to specify an individual as Designated Premises Supervisor for Baba Jaga 2, 12-14 Strathmore Drive, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 6AB.

These had been published and circulated to all parties.

5.

Declaration of Interests

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

Minutes:

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

6.

Application for the Renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for Liberte, 10 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DS pdf icon PDF 142 KB

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requests consideration for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing. This application is made by TRL Promotions Ltd, for a premises to operate under the name of Liberte at 10 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DS.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, requested Members’ consideration on the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing. The application was made by TRL Promotions Ltd., for a premises to operate under the name of Liberte at 10 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DS.

 

In attendance for the hearing were:

·  Luke Elford, John Gaunt & Partners – Applicant’s representative

·  Manuela Haruta, Director of TRL Promotions Ltd – Applicant

·  Susan Duckworth, Officer from Entertainment Licensing

 

The Legal Officer set out the procedure for the hearing.

 

The Licensing Officer presented the application:

·  The hours of operation are to remain as existing:

o  22:00hrs until 04:00hrs Sunday to Thursday

o  22:00hrs until 05:00hrs Friday and Saturday

·  A copy of the application was appended to the submitted report at Appendix B.

·  Members were advised that additional documents were attached to the report at Appendix C, which included:

o  Dancers Welfare Pack

o  Dancers Code of Conduct

o  Customers Code of Conduct

o  Pricing Policy

o  Trade Union Details.

·  Members were requested to consider the external appearance and all methods of advertising. Photographs of the external appearance were attached at Appendix D. It was noted that the appearance of the premises would remain as existing.

·  The application had attracted a representation from Entertainment Licensing suggesting revised conditions replace the existing conditions on the licence. A review of the conditions in consultation with the existing Sexual Entertainment Venues identified out of date, redundant and in some cases unworkable conditions. Copies of the representation and the revised conditions were appended to the report at Appendix E.

·  No other representations had been received.

 

The applicant’s representative provided the Sub-Committee with the following information:

·  TRL Promotions Ltd. have held the licence at the premises since 2012.

·  It was the view that the representation brought by the Licensing Team was a sensible suggestion for the Sexual Entertainment Venues. There had been good work between the venue and the team, which had come up with sensible, appropriate, and proportionate conditions for performers in the 21st Century.

·  It was noted that web links to Leeds Women’s Aid would be part of the standard conditions.

 

The officer from Entertainment Licensing informed the Sub-Committee that this was not an objection; more of a letter to consider updating the conditions.

 

The Team had worked with the Sexual Entertainment Venues suggesting updates, which included:

·  Electronic documents

·  Conditions that were easier to comply with and enforce.

·  CCTV updates

·  Price lists were to be provided on entry to the premises.

·  Pre work checks to be undertaken including DBS checks and right to work checks, this was to protect the workers and the venues.

·  There were also rules around no touching and what is and is not allowed.

 

It was the view that these revised conditions are more up to date and sensible. It was also the suggestion that the dancers should be able to access links to Leeds Women’s Aid should they require  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Application for the Renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for Purple Door, 5 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR pdf icon PDF 142 KB

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requests consideration for the renewal of a sex establishment licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing. This application is made by Ruby May (2) Limited, for a premises to operate under the name of Purple Door, 5 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, requested Members’ consideration for the renewal of a sex establishment licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing. The application was made by Ruby May (2) Limited, for a premises to operate under the name of Purple Door, 5 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR.

 

In attendance at the meeting were:

·  Sarah Smith, Sintons Law – Applicant’s Representative

·  Nicholas Quadrini, Director of Ruby May (2) Ltd – Applicant

·  Carl Copeland, Manager

·  Marcus Quadrini – observing

·  Susan Duckworth, Officer from Entertainment Licensing

 

The Legal Officer set out the procedure for the hearing.

 

The Licensing Officer presented the application to the Sub-Committee providing the following information:

·  The hours of operation are to remain as existing:

o  22:00hrs until 04:00hrs Sunday to Thursday

o  22:00hrs until 05:00hrs Friday and Saturday

·  A copy of the application was appended to the submitted report at Appendix B.

·  Members were advised that additional documents were attached to the report at Appendix C, which included:

o  Dancers Welfare Pack

o  Dancers Code of Conduct

o  Customers Code of Conduct

o  Pricing Policy

o  Trade Union Details.

·  Members were requested to consider the external appearance and all methods of advertising. Photographs of the external appearance were attached at Appendix D. It was noted that the appearance of the premises would remain the same as when the licence was last renewed.

·  The application had attracted a representation from Entertainment Licensing suggesting revised conditions replace the existing conditions on the licence. A review of the conditions in consultation with the existing Sexual Entertainment Venues identified out of date, redundant and in some cases unworkable conditions. Copies of the representation and the revised conditions were appended to the report at Appendix E.

·  No other representations had been received.

 

The applicant’s representative provided the Sub-Committee with the following information:

·  This application is for a renewal of the licence only.

·  Purple Door is one of the longest established Sexual Entertainment Venues in Leeds, and since 2012 has held a Sexual Establishment Licence.

·  There are no changes to the external appearance of the premises and no internal changes.

·  Purple Door does not use vehicles to attract customers.

·  Purple Door is approving of the changes made to the conditions and have updated the dancer’s welfare pack following discussions with Entertainment Licensing.

·  The locality of the venue has not changed and there is a mix of offices, residences and restaurants in the area.

·  The operation of Purple Door is tried and tested and works well. The number of customers has decreased slightly due to covid.

·  The new conditions will make documents and practices much clearer and simpler.

·  No concerns had been raised with the premises.

 

The officer from Entertainment Licensing informed the Sub-Committee that this was not an objection; more of a letter to consider updating the conditions.

 

The Team had worked with the Sexual Entertainment Venues suggesting updates, which included:

·  Electronic documents

·  Conditions that were easier to comply with and enforce.

·  CCTV updates  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Applications for the Transfer of Premises Licence and the Variation of Premises Licence to specify an individual as Designated Premise Supervisor for Baba Jaga 2, 12 - 14 Strathmore Drive, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 6AB pdf icon PDF 110 KB

The report of Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requests Members consideration on applications for the Transfer of Premises Licence and the Variation of Premises Licence to specify an individual as Designated Premises

Supervisor for Baba Jaga 2, 12 - 14 Strathmore Drive, Harehills, Leeds,

LS9 6AB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

·  The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, requested Members’ consideration in relation to two applications received by the Licensing Authority in respect of Baba Jaga 2, 12-14 Strathmore Drive, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 6AB; an application to transfer the premises licence and an application to vary the licence to specify an individual as the designated premises supervisor (DPS).

 

In attendance for this hearing were:

·  Patrick Robson, John Gaunt & Partners – Applicant’s representative

·  Nabaz Ibrahim Karim – Applicant

·  PC Andy Clifford – West Yorkshire Police

·  PC Haywood – West Yorkshire Police

 

The Legal Officer set out the procedure for the hearing.

 

The Licensing Officer presented the applications providing the following information:

·  An application to transfer the licence was made to appoint Gusto Market Mini Ltd. as the licence holder. A copy of the application to transfer the licence was attached to the report at Appendix B.

·  An application to vary the licence was made to specify Nabaz Ibrahim Karim as the DPS. A copy of the application to vary the licence to specify an individual as the DPS was attached to the report at Appendix C.

·  Members were advised that the licence is currently subject to review proceedings, and these may be referred to during the hearing. Further information in relation to this was set out at Paragraph 2: Licence History. The most recent history relating to the review were highlighted at Paragraphs 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 of the submitted report.

·  Representations had been received from West Yorkshire Police and a copy of the objection notice was appended to the report at Appendix D in respect of the transfer application and Appendix E in respect of the application to change the premises supervisor.

·  The options available to Members for both applications were highlighted at Paragraph 6.2 of the report.

 

The applicant’s representative addressed the Sub-Committee providing the following information:

·  Mr Karim had worked in London at Costcutter, although his family live in Middlesbrough. He hoped to bring is his family to live in Leeds. It was noted that Mr Karim’s daughter has health issues.

·  Mr Karim had been given a personal licence by Southwark Local Authority whilst working in London.

·  Mr Karim also worked in Northampton at a convenience store called D-Lite and Monopol. It was noted that no issues had been raised by Northampton Police and that Mr Karim had an unblemished track record.

·  Mr Karim had met Mr Rashka as he had sold him a car through the Copart Online Auction. He had not met him prior to this. It was noted that there was a paper trail of the car sale.

·  Through a friend Mr Karim had heard that a shop was being sold in Harehills and it was cheap as the owner Mr Rashka had a new wife and wished to be with her. It was what Mr Karim had been looking for, so he agreed to purchase it at a low price but take on all the debt for stock etc.

·  It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.