Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

To receive declarations of interest (if any) from Members of the Committee arising from business to be transacted at this meeting.

RESOLVED: To note that the following interest was declared:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meetings held on 25 June, 29 July and 28 August 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as correct records.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no public questions, petitions or deputations submitted to this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rules 18, 15 and 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer.

The Panel received a report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer detailing an application submitted by Joelson Wilson & Co Solicitors on behalf of Broken Foot Inns, the owners of the premises. The application was for an annual licence for public music and dancing on weekdays with an extension of hours to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The premises are in the main commercial part of central Harrow, with some domestic accommodation in the area, and has no parking for patrons.

The Chief Environmental Health Officer advised the Panel that the Police had not objected to the application, but had raised observations regarding security and CCTV arrangements, as outlined in the letter included in the report.

Mrs McCullum, representative of Joelson Wilson & Co Solicitors, in her opening statement informed the Panel that the premises was managed well by Miss Slinn, the licensee. She further advised that the entertainment would be in the form of either a DJ playing 70’s, 80’s or pop music or live bands, mainly tribute bands. Mrs Cullum confirmed that the applicant was happy to comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 8.3 of the Chief Environmental Health Officer’s report and in Sergeant Carl Davis’ letter.

The Panel were further advised that this was the first application made by the licensee who felt that there was sufficient demand for late openings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday nights. Members were informed that the clientele mainly consisted of office-based workers from the surrounding area. The applicant went on to explain that CCTV was in the process of being installed and all works were due to be completed by the middle or end of November. The CCTV cameras were being placed at focal points to cover the whole of the ground floor, stairs and outer lobby to the toilets.

A Member asked if the tapes from the CCTV would be available to the Police for viewing at any time. Responding, Mrs McCullum confirmed they would be available, as agreed with Sergeant Davis.  She advised the Panel that Miss Slinn had co-operated with the police in every way.

Sergeant Davis confirmed that there had been no reported serious incidents at the premises and that he was satisfied with the licensee’s proposals.

RESOLVED: That (1) the application for an annual public entertainments licence for the Fat Controller, 362-366 Station Road, Harrow, be granted for 12 months, with the addition of the following conditions:

CONDITIONS:

1.                   CCTV is installed on the premises

2.                   Door supervisors are used on the nights that entertainment takes place/ the licence is used.

3.                   Door supervisors are registered

4.                   Door supervisors are in possession of a ‘Magic Wand’ or similar metal detecting device

5.                   One of the door supervisors is female to facilitate searching of female customers

6.                   No entertainments will take place until outstanding works have been completed and the emergency arrangements at the premises have been finalised to the satisfaction of the Chief Environmental Health Officer.

(2) the Chief Environmental Health Officer be authorised to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

Report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer.

The Panel received a report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer detailing an application for the renewal of a public entertainments licence for the Rayners Hotel, Village Way East, Rayners Lane. The application was submitted by Scottish and Newcastle Retail Ltd, licencees of the premises. 

The Rayners Hotel is a public house with a large function room located on Village Way East, Rayners Lane. The premises is sited in an area that is principally commercial in nature, however, there are a number of residential properties in the area.

The application was referred to the Panel as there was initially an unresolved Police objection, due to a serious incident which occurred in June 2003, which raised concerns over the security arrangements on the premises. However, following conciliation and correspondence between the Police, Environmental Health and the Area Manager of the premises, a compromise had been reached.

Sergeant Carl Davis confirmed that he was satisfied with the compromise reached, and hoped that this would give the licensees an opportunity to put things right. He hoped that the Panel would consider adding the conditions suggested in the letter from the Licensing Officer.

The Manager, Mr Wright, informed the Panel that the CCTV system had been in operation for approximately 4 years, with 9 cameras placed in strategic points throughout the premises. In response, Sergeant Davis told Members that at the time of inspection some of the cameras were ineffective and not facing focal points, although this had now been rectified.

Members queried some of the conditions set out in the letter from Environmental Health to the Area Manager of the Rayners Hotel. Mr Wright informed the Panel that there were no admissions after 10pm so condition 9 was already in effect.  They were also curious as to why condition 7 stated that the CCTV screens had to be monitored by employees of the licensees and not the security door staff. Sergeant Davis explained that ultimately, the licensee was responsible for the liquor licence and the onus should be on him, as opposed to the door staff who were, in most cases, contractors.

Mr Wright explained that the premises has a car parking facility for 50/60 cars. He also confirmed that they would not be using the promoter involved in the incident in June, and that most events would be ticketed in order to maintain crowd control.

RESOLVED: That the renewal of the public entertainments licence to Rayners Hotel, Village Way East, Rayners Lane, be granted for 12 months, with the additional conditions:

CONDITIONS: (numbering refers to the continuity of the numbers on the previous licence)

2.                   The licensee is to employ a suitable number of trained badged door staff at the premises during all of the times the premises are open and trading. The ratio is to be based on 1 door supervisor to every 50 patrons.

3.                   Full details of the door staff be supplied to the Police and a register of the door staff employed at the premises per day be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.