Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure.

There were none.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There were none.

There was none.

The Chair will, if required, explain the summary review procedure.

The Chair drew attention to the procedure for the meeting.

If appropriate, the Sub-Committee may consider passing a resolution to exclude the public for one or both of the following items of business in accordance with the provisions of section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chair said that the Sub-Committee had the power to go into closed session in accordance with the provisions of section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, and would give due consideration to any request from the parties to do this.

Applicant for Review: Chief Officer, Avon and Somerset Police, represented by Inspector Shirley Eden

Licence Holder: Chings Company Ltd, represented by Mr Yotjai Potjakapong (Designated Premises Supervisor)

The Senior Public Protection Officer presented the report. She explained that an application had been received the previous day from the Chief Officer of Police calling for a Summary Review of the premises licence of these premises in accordance with section 53(A) of the Licensing Act 2003. Upon receipt of such an application the Licensing Authority must:

1. within 48 hours consider whether it is necessary to take interim steps to prevent serious crime, serious disorder or both occurring at the premises;

2. within 28 days (starting the day after the application is received by the Licensing Authority) hold a hearing to determine the review application.

The Sub-Committee was invited to consider today whether any interim steps were necessary to prevent serious crime, serious disorder or both from occurring at the premises in the period prior to the review hearing.

Inspector Shirley Eden stated the case for the Police reading from and expanding on the Police application. She explained that there were some 12-15 licensed premises in the small town of Midsomer Norton, and that groups of young people tended to migrate from one establishment to another during the course of an evening. Alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour had been a long-standing problem in the town. About eighteen months ago a Community Alcohol Partnership had been established, since when crime levels, though still remaining high, had fallen. Over the past twelve months about 60  intelligence reports relating to the Stones Cross had been received. A covert policing operation had been run at the premises between 2/11/2013 and 08/03/2013, during which there were many drug deals with undercover officers involving Class A, B and C drugs and 2 incidents of handling stolen goods. Local residents had given witness statements about the adverse impact that crime associated with the premises had had on them. There was particular concern because of the skate park in the town, which acted as a magnet for young people from a wide area.

Intelligence indicated that the License Holder and Manager had been involved in the handling of stolen goods. He had been arrested and charged the previous week. When Police had visited the premises on 14^th November last year, following a complaint from a customer, there had been a strong smell of cannabis, unacceptable levels of aggression had been shown to officers and there had been a total lack of support for officers by staff.

There were 20 suspects who had sold drugs within the premises and an additional 3 suspects who had sold drugs within the immediate vicinity. There had been a total of 24 arrests the previous week. 

In reply to questions from Members, she stated:

• intelligence received had come from members of the community; it was very much a community-led initiative

• Mr Potjakapong was the DPS, but the premises were managed on a daily basis by Mr Ching

• because  ...  view the full minutes text for item 135.

Applicant for Review: Chief Officer, Avon and Somerset Police, represented by Inspector Shirley Eden

Licence Holders: Mr James Bull (also DPS) and Miss Lucy Milner

The Senior Public Protection Officer presented the report. She explained that an application had been received the previous day from the Chief Officer of Police calling for a Summary Review of the premises licence of these premises in accordance with section 53(A) of the Licensing Act 2003. Upon receipt of such an application the Licensing Authority must:

1. within 48 hours consider whether it is necessary to take interim steps to prevent serious crime, serious disorder or both occurring at the premises;

2. within 28 days (starting the day after the application is received by the Licensing Authority) hold a hearing to determine the review application.

The Sub-Committee was invited to consider today whether any interim steps were necessary to prevent serious crime, serious disorder or both from occurring at the premises in the period prior to the review hearing.

Inspector Shirley Eden stated the case for the Police, reading from and expanding on the Police application. She explained that the Wunder Bar was located in the same area as the Stones Cross in Midsomer Norton. There were a large number of licensed premises in the town and groups of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 tended to migrate from one establishment to another in the course of an evening. Because of the level of alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour in the town, a Community Alcohol Partnership had been established about 18 months ago. A large number of intelligence reports had been received had been received and there had been an undercover Police operation, which had revealed a great deal of drug dealing the town. Wunder Bar was one of the premises about which intelligence had been received, though most related to other premises. Undercover officers had purchased drugs on 9 occasions inside the premises and on 3 occasions in the immediate vicinity and on a further 10 occasions in High Street, Midsomer Norton. The drugs predominantly supplied were MDMA and Cocaine, both Class A controlled drugs. There were 6 suspects who supplied drugs within the premises and a further suspect who supplied drugs in the street outside the premises. The possible impact of this illegal activity on young people was a concern, because of the presence in the town of the skate park, which was not in full public view and could provide cover for drug dealing. The Police were requesting the suspension of the licence, or if the Sub-Committee was not minded to do this, the attachment of 9 conditions to the licence.

In response to questions from Members Inspector Eden stated

·  all suspects had been charged; some of them were on remand, others on strict bail conditions

·  open drug dealing had taken place in the premises, and in the opinion of officers staff had been aware of this activity

·  there were intelligence reports relating to 4 or 5 premises, but the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136.