Agenda for Forest Heath Licensing and Regulatory Sub-Committee on Wednesday 14 November 2018, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, District Offices, College Heath Road

Contact: Helen Hardinge  Email: helen.hardinge@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

61.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

62.

Substitutes

Minutes:

There were no substitutes at the meeting.

63.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

It was unanimously

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor Brian Harvey be elected as Chairman.

64.

Application for the Renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence (Sexual Entertainment Venue - Heaven Awaits Ltd) (Report No: LSC/FH/18/005) pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Report No: LSC/FH/18/005

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business Partner (Litigation/Licensing) welcomed all present to the Hearing, reported that no declarations of interest had been received and drew attention to the procedure for the conduct of Sex Establishment Licensing Hearings which was attached to the agenda.

 

The Chairman then invited introductions from all present.

 

The following parties were present at the Hearing:

 

(a)         Applicant

i.     Mr Dean Adams, Director, Newmarket Entertainment Ltd, 109-111 High Street, Newmarket

ii.    Mr Gokul Swami, Director, Newmarket Entertainment Ltd, 109-111 High Street, Newmarket

 

(b)         Interested Parties

i.     Mrs Sara Beckett, local resident

ii.    Mrs Roberta Bennett, Town Centre Manager, Newmarket Town Council

iii.   Councillor Warwick Hirst, Newmarket Town Councillor and local resident

 

The Licensing Officer presented the report which explained that an application had been received from Newmarket Entertainment Ltd for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for the Sexual Entertainment Venue Heaven, 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/18/005.

 

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 the applicant had again 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.”

This variation had been granted by the Sub-Committee in 2017 in order to reflect the new position of the changing room.

 

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, 2016 and 2017; and the applicant was again requesting this dispensation as part of the application before the Sub-Committee.

 

Following advertisement of the application three representations had been received from interested parties; two objecting to the application and one in support, these were attached at Appendices 3 to 5.  Members were advised that the representation attached at Appendix 5 was received after the representation period for the application had expired.  However, as a Hearing was required irrespective of the late representation, it was agreed for it to be included within the agenda papers.

 

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 taken ownership of Heaven Awaits in February 2017, prior to which it had been successfully operating since 2006.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

 

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