Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2016 (copies of which had been circulated) were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers are invited to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and members of the Sub-Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Sub-Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided.  These are available at the meeting).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details an application submitted on behalf of the Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Police for a summary review of the Premises Licence at the George, 15 Wellington Road North, Stockport in light of allegations that the premises had been associated with serious crime, serious disorder or both and requesting that the Sub-Committee take interim steps to suspend the premises licence pending a full review.

The Sub-Committee is recommended to consider the application for a summary review of the Premises Licence at the George, 15 Wellington Road North, Stockport.

Officer contact: Caitriona Muldoon 0161 474 4162 or email: caitriona.muldoon@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration reported upon the receipt of an application submitted on behalf of the Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Police (copies of which had been circulated) for a summary review of the Premises Licence at the George, 15 Wellington Road North, Stockport, in accordance with Section 53(A) of the Licensing Act 2003, and requesting that the Sub-Committee take interim steps to suspend the premises licence pending a full review.

The Licensing Authority had been requested by Greater Manchester Police to undertake the summary review of the premises licence at The George, Stockport in light of allegations that the premises had been associated with serious disorder.

A representative of Greater Manchester Police attended the meeting and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the summary review. The premises licence holder and his representative also attended the meeting and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the summary review.

The Sub-Committee, having heard the interested parties, proceeded to consider the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective in respect of the review, together with the relevant parts of the Council’s Licensing Policy and the guidance from the Department of Media and Sport. However, the decision was reached on consideration of all the arguments given in relation to this specific application.

It was then

RESOLVED – That having heard the application for a summary review of the premises licence at The George, 15 Wellington Road North, Stockport made by the Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Police and having considered all the evidence presented, the Sub-Committee was satisfied that the premises had been associated with serious disorder, specifically that on Saturday, 25 June 2016 a patron was violently assaulted within close proximity to the George Public House.

The Sub-Committee noted the circumstances surrounding the incident were such that the incident occurred after 2.30am and that there was a significant congregation of people outside the premises some of whom were observed to re-enter the premises without challenge by the SIA door supervisors.

The Sub-Committee considered that the serious nature of the incident was such that it was necessary for the Sub-Committee to take interim steps pending the final determination of the review so as to obviate the real and significant risk of further disorder occurring at the premises.

The Sub-Committee was therefore of the view that in order to promote the four licensing objectives, and in particular for the prevention of crime and disorder and the promotion of public safety, and in the view of the seriousness of the incident, it was necessary and proportionate to:-

·         Amend the current hours for the supply of alcohol for retail sale both on and off the premises to between 09:00 hours and 01:00 hours Thursday to Saturday.

·         That all patrons shall vacate the premises within 30 minutes of the end of licensable activity.

·         That two SIA door supervisors (excluding the Designated Premises Supervisor) be employed and on duty between 21:00 hours and closing time on a Friday and Saturday.

·         That the police, licensing authority and the premises licence holder enter into discussions to develop a security and external management plan the result of which shall be submitted to the final summary review hearing on 19 July 2016; and

·         That the premises be required to undertake an assessment, within the next five working days, of the current arrangement and coverage of CCTV cameras to the satisfaction of the police and licensing authority.