Issue - meetings

To consider an application from North Wales Police for the Review of a Premises Licence made in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of The Galley, 118 Vale Road, Rhyl (an outline of the submission and associated papers are attached).

10.00 a.m.

RESOLVED that –

(a)  the Designated Premises Supervisor be removed, and

(b)  the Premises Licence be suspended for a period of three months or such lesser time as North Wales Police indicate to the licensing authority that it is satisfied that the management of the premises is adhering to the licensing objectives and is prepared to have some meaningful liaison with North Wales Police.

A report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (previously circulated) was submitted upon –

(i)        an application having been received from North Wales Police for the Review of a Premises Licence held by Mrs. Vanessa Michelle Steele in respect of The Galley, 118 Vale Road, Rhyl (a copy of the existing Premises Licence and current operating schedule having been attached as Appendix A to the report);

(ii)      the grounds for review related to the Licensing Objectives for the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and Public Safety and were –

“as a result of the concerns that North Wales Police has in respect of the management at the licensed premises.  The Premises Licence Holder (who is also the Designated Premises Supervisor) has failed to engage with the Force to address these concerns, despite clear evidence of a lack of understanding of the Licensing Objectives as defined under the Licensing Act 2003.”

full details of the Review application having been attached as Appendix B to the report;

(iii)     North Wales Police and the Council having embarked on a joint initiative to visit licensed premises in the Rhyl area to highlight the requirements of licensed premises not to serve people who were drunk as well as to generate support for the local Pubwatch scheme (Pubwatch was a national voluntary scheme set up with the aim of achieving a safe, secure and responsibly led social drinking environment in licensed premises);

(iv)     a visit to The Galley undertaken on 27 May 2018 as part of that initiative during which officers were subjected to foul language, confrontational and aggressive behaviour by a drunk member of the premises management and officers’ opinion that the management team held some contempt to the Pubwatch scheme and would serve whom they wished;

(v)      a letter having been sent to the Premises Licence Holder inviting her to attend a meeting to discuss Police concerns and agree a supportive way forward and her response that should she wish to become a member of the local Pubwatch scheme in future she would inform the Police and Local Authority;

(vi)     the Premises Licence Holder having also failed to attend a further meeting arranged by the Police to discuss concerns and agree a mutual understanding of the legal requirement to further promote the licensing objectives;

(vii)    the Premises Licence Holder in response to the Review application having suggested she was willing to attend any local Pubwatch meetings (a copy of the response having been attached as Appendix C to the report);

(viii)  footage provided by the Police from a body camera during a follow up licensing visit on 1 June 2018 having been submitted in evidence and viewed by members prior to the hearing – the footage showed an individual on the premises who had been banned under the Pubwatch Scheme;

(ix)     the need to consider the Review application taking due account of the Guidance issued by the Secretary of State and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy;

(x)      reference to the joint enforcement protocol with North Wales Police and the Council and three stage enforcement with an escalation mechanism – the failure of the Premises Licence Holder to engage with Police having resulted in immediate escalation to stage three, and

(xi)     options available to the committee when determining the Review application.

The Enforcement Officer (HB) introduced the report and outlined the facts of the case.  There had been some confusion on the part of the premises management with regard to the Designated Premises Supervisor and it was clarified that Mrs. Vanessa Steele was the Designated Premises Supervisor, not Ms. Kayleigh Mannion.  Mrs.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3