Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Substitute Members.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs Grigg be elected as the Chair for the duration of the meeting.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public as proposed.

The persons participating in the hearing were identified as follows:

Chair – Councillor Mrs Grigg

Committee Member – Councillor Garten

Committee Member – Councillor Joy

Legal Advisor – Mrs Sarah Beasley, observed by Mr Robin Harris

Senior Licensing Officer – Ms Lorraine Neale

Online Facilitator/Democratic Services Officer – Miss Oliviya Parfitt

Democratic Services Officer (in attendance for training purposes) – Mrs Lara Banks

Applicant – Unity Parties Limited

Witnesses to be called by the Applicant:

Legal Representative – Mr Marcus Lavell

Mr Enrique Rodal – Director of Unity Parties Limited and The Green Room

Mr Laurence Claughton – P&P Security

Objector – Anonymous stated to be on behalf of Mr B Turgut.

All parties confirmed that they were aware of the Sub-Committee hearing procedure and had each received a copy of the hearing procedure document.

The Chair explained that:

·  The Sub-Committee would allow all parties to put their case fully and make full submissions within a reasonable time frame.

·  The procedure would take the form of a discussion led by the Sub-Committee and they would usually permit cross-examination conducted within a reasonable timeframe.

·  Any persons attending the hearing who behaved in a disruptive manner may be directed to leave the hearing by the Sub-Committee (including temporarily) after which, such person may submit to the Sub-Committee over the Instant Messaging facility any information which that person would have been entitled to give orally had the person not been required to leave the meeting. If this is not possible, they may be permitted to speak at the Chair’s invitation.

The Sub-Committee confirmed that they had read all the papers.

The Chair enquired whether any draft conditions had been agreed between the applicant and other parties; no draft conditions had been agreed.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the variation application. The representations submitted by Kent Police on 8 January 2021 had been withdrawn on 12 January 2021, as these were agreed by the applicant with some alterations.

The five objections received were outlined. Additional documents had been provided to the Sub-Committee from the Applicant on Tuesday 16 February 2021; dispersal strategy, sound and security report, upcoming events, support letter, correspondence between the Police Licensing Officer and the applicant and a map showing the late-night venues in Maidstone.

The applicant’s witnesses were invited to address the panel, with Mr Rodal referencing the building’s longevity and use as a music venue within the town centre. The facilities within the building would include a whisky room, pizza restaurant, jazz room, record shop and a members only cocktail and champagne bar. The clientele would have to be over 25 years of age.

Mr Rodal stated that the hours requested within the variation application would allow for increased staffing opportunities, with reference to the Covid-19 pandemic, and would provide the business with flexibility to operate late-night hours when necessary, but that on Fridays, Saturdays and Bank Holiday Sundays the venue would remain open until 4 a.m. This has been discussed with Kent Police’s Licensing Officer.

Mr Lavell  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.