Agenda and minutes

Application for Variation of Licence to Specify an Individual as Designated Premise Supervisor under the Licensing Act 2003

DECISION OF LICENSING ACT SUB-COMMITTEE

MONDAY 2^ND SEPTEMBER 2013

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF LICENCE TO SPECIFY AN INDIVIDUAL AS DESIGNATED PREMISES SUPERVISOR

The Sub-Committee comprised of Councillor Mike Greenall (Chairman), Councillor Val Histed and Councillor Billy Hill 

The Legal Adviser was Luke Gorst, Solicitor.

The Democratic Support Officer was Jane Glenton, Democratic Services.

An application had been made under section 37 of the Licensing Act 2003 to vary the premises licence of The Square, 20 Great St John Street, Lancaster to specify Lorraine Marie Jackson as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

The police had submitted an objection to the application by giving a Notice under section 37(6) of the Licensing Act 2003.

PC Darren West represented the Police, who had made the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and was accompanied by Heather Crawshaw, PC Chris Smith and PCSO Nicole Croft.

The premises licence holder, Inns & Leisure Ltd, were not present at the hearing but had submitted written representations to be considered by the Sub-Committee.

The Chairman explained the procedure to those present, and stated that the hearing would be a discussion led by the licensing authority, and any questions would be put through the Chairman.

David Eglin, Licensing Officer, introduced the report, and stated that the application had been for the change to have immediate effect from the date of application and therefore Mrs Jackson was the current DPS pending the outcome of the hearing.

PC West then presented the police case and requested that Mrs Jackson be removed as DPS and the application refused.  The other police representatives present helped answer questions.

After summing up, the Sub-Committee withdrew to make its decision, and sought advice from its legal adviser as to the appropriate phraseology of the decision.

DECISION

The Sub-Committee has noted that the application relates to the variation of the licence for the The Square, 20 Great John Street Lancaster to specify Lorraine Jackson as the DPS.

 The Sub-Committee has carefully considered all the written information before it and all the representations and views expressed at the hearing by the responsible authority.

The Sub-Committee has to decide whether or not the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder will  be undermined if Lorraine Jackson is appointed as the DPS at The Square in Lancaster.

The Sub-Committee has heard evidence from the police as to the behaviour of Mrs Jackson when she was the DPS at other premises in the city. Indeed, alarming CCTV footage was shown of Mrs Jackson’s involvement in a violent altercation outside a city centre pub when she was working as a DPS at the premises. This sort of behaviour cannot be tolerated and is not expected of a person given the day to day responsibility for running a premises.

The Sub-Committee has also heard of a string of anti-social and criminal behaviour in premises Mrs Jackson has had involvement with. Worryingly these incidents have continued at The Square since  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.