Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no substitutes at the meeting.

It was unanimously

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Brian Harvey be elected as Chairman.

Report No: LSC/FH/17/003

The Chairman welcomed all present to the Hearing, reported that no declarations of interest had been received and introductions to the Panel were made.

The Chairman also drew attention to the procedure for the conduct of Sex Establishment Licensing Hearings which was attached to the agenda.

The following parties were present at the Hearing:

(a)         Applicant

Mr Dean Adams, Director, Heaven Awaits Ltd, 109-111 High Street, Newmarket

(b)         Interested Parties

i.     Mr Warwick Hirst, local resident

ii.    Councillor Rachel Hood, Newmarket Town Council

iii.   Councillor Justin Wadham, Newmarket Town Council

The Licensing Officer presented the report which explained that an application had been received for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for the Sexual Entertainment Venue Heaven Awaits Ltd, 109-111 High Street, Newmarket.  The premises had been trading since April 2006 and had held a Sexual Entertainment Venue licence since 1 October 2012.  A copy of the application was attached at Appendix 1 of Report No LIC/FH/17/003.

The application was to licence the premises for use as a sexual entertainment venue during the following hours (as per the current premises licence and with no proposed changes):-

Monday to Wednesday: 10.00am to 02.00am

Thursday to Saturday:    10.00am to 03.20am

Sunday:                         12.00pm to 03.00pm

In addition to the renewal, a plan had been submitted which showed the new position of the changing room.  Accordingly, the applicant had requested a variation to Part V Condition 13 to read:

“At all times, performers will have access to a new secure changing room situated on the ground floor 20 feet from the stage and away from public view.”

The application had been served on Suffolk Constabulary as the only statutory consultee; their representation was attached at Appendix 4 and contained no objection to the renewal of the licence.

Following advertisement of the application two representations had been received from interested parties; one objecting to the application and one in support, these were attached at Appendices 5 and 6.

The Officer explained that in addition to the consideration of the renewal application and amended condition, the Sub-Committee was also requested to again consider the premises signage.  The current and main external sign did not comply with the Council’s standard conditions for sex establishments; in that the sign was larger than permitted.  A dispensation had been granted by the Council as part of the licence’s renewal in both 2015 and 2016, and the applicant was again requesting this dispensation as part of the application before the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee then heard the individual submissions from each of the parties present.

Mr Dean Adams (Applicant) advised the Sub-Committee that he and his fellow Director had successfully operated Sex Establishments in Essex and Hertfordshire for a number of years and had considerable experience in running venues of this type. 

Since taking ownership of Heaven Awaits in February 2017 they had upgraded the CCTV system and amended the location of the changing rooms.  He was simply seeking a renewal of the licence with the dispensation for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.