There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reason specified having applied the Public Interest Test:

The meeting commenced at 11.07 a.m.

The Chairman requested that all those participating in the hearing identified themselves as follows:-

Councillor Mrs Wendy Hinder – Chairman

Councillor Bob Hinder – Committee Member

Councillor Mrs Denise Joy – Committee Member

Robin Harris – Legal Officer

Lorraine Neale – Senior Licensing Officer

Mike Nash – Democratic Services Officer

For the Applicant:

Mr James Williams – Kent Police

Mr Mark Beresford – Kent Police

Mr Chris Hill – Kent Police

For the Respondent:

Mr David Fuller – freeholder of the property and license holder of the premises

The Chairman asked all parties to confirm that they were aware of the hearing procedure.

The Committee Members confirmed that they had pre-read all the agenda papers and any other documents regarding the hearing.

The applicant was invited to give his opening remarks.

Mr James Williams outlined the nature of the serious disorder that took place in Jubilee Square on 25 August 2019 at 3.00 a.m. and explained that the security procedures adopted by The Gallery nightclub were relevant to the ongoing investigation.

Mr Chris Hill, Mr Mark Beresford and Mr James Williams responded to questions from the Committee relating to the incident and the security procedures at The Gallery nightclub.

The respondent was invited to give his opening remarks.

Mr Fuller confirmed details relating to the ownership and leasing of the premises license and explained the day-to-day management arrangements for the venue.

In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Fuller outlined the nature of the future events that had been booked at the venue and clarified that all events to be held on a Saturday had been cancelled.

Mr Harris asked Kent Police to comment on the Objectors counterproposal.

Mr Beresford and Mr Hill reasserted the reasons why the original proposal had been submitted.

The Chairman advised that the Committee would retire for deliberation.

The meeting closed at 11.58 a.m.

RECORD OF CONSIDERATION OF INTERIM STEPS

LICENSING ACT 2003 SS53A –C

Applicant Summary Review:Superintendent Warren Franklin, Kent Police

Premises:  The Gallery Bank Street Maidstone Kent ME14 1SD

Licence Holders: Mr Dave Fuller

Date of Consideration: 6^th September 2019

Licensing Sub Committee Members:  Cllr Wendy Hinder (Chairman)

  Cllr Denise Joy

  Cllr Bob Hinder

Legal Advisor in attendance:  Robin Harris, Interim Team Leader (Contentious), MKLS

Licensing Officer in attendance:  Lorraine Neale

DECISION AND REASONS

The Sub Committee have considered whether interim steps are necessary in this case.  They have considered the grounds set out in the application for summary review and the oral representations made by Kent Police and the Licence holder.  This included the evidence in the summary review application. Also, conditions offered by the Licence holder as appropriate and proportionate to promote the relevant Licensing objectives were considered.

The Sub-Committee considered the options available to them, in particular the interim step of suspension of the Licence requested by Kent Police. Having heard representations from all parties the Sub-Committee were of the view that only the suspension of the licence would properly promote the licensing objectives and that this interim step was necessary for the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.

The Sub-Committee considered that there were no conditions that could be imposed as interim steps in lieu of suspension and that the premises should use the suspension period as an opportunity to pause, consider its operating schedule and work with the Police in order to propose an updated operating schedule at the impending full review hearing.

The ‘distraction’ created by trying to dynamically risk assess and manage events in the interim period would hamper that process and there would be a very real danger that adequate risk assessments for events would be impossible in the short term due to the community tension around this premises.

For all the above reasons the interim step of suspension of the licence pending the full review hearing was appropriate, proportionate and necessary to promote the licensing objectives.

There is no right of appeal against this interim steps decision.

Dated: 6^th September 2019

Signed: Signed copy kept on file