To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

There were none.

Lord John Shayler

4 Church Street

Ampthill

Bedfordshire

MK45 2EH

Cllr D Bowater           -           Central Bedfordshire Councillor

Cllr D Berry                -           Central Bedfordshire Councillor

Cllr Mrs M Mustoe     -           Central Bedfordshire Councillor

Mr M Woolsey           -           Managing Solicitor

Miss H Bell                 -           Committee Services Officer

Mr D McBain             -           Licensing Enforcement Officer

Mrs J Borthwick         -           Service Manager

PC C Carey               -           Licensing Officer, Bedfordshire Police

Mr F Fender               -           Representing the Applicant

Cllr P Duckett            -           Central Bedfordshire Councillor

Cllr M Smith               -           Central Bedfordshire Councillor

Cllr M Blair                 -           Central Bedfordshire Councillor

140 relevant representations were made by members of the public.

Mr P Ayee                  -           Objector

Mrs L Douglas           -           Objector

Mrs L Illingworth         -           Objector

Mr B Prickett              -           Objector

Mrs M Hudson           -           Objector

PC Carey – Requesting conditions to licence

Mr F Fender – Representing Applicant

Cllr P Duckett – Objecting to application

Cllr M Smith – Objecting to application

Mr P Ayee – Objecting to application

Mrs L Douglas – Objecting to application

Mrs L Gillingworth – Objecting to application

Mr B Prickett – Objecting to application

The Procedures for the hearing of applications- Sex Establishment Licensing, The Local Government (Miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982 as amended by S27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 was noted.

There were no amendments to the application by the applicant.

The Application was for the granting of a Sex Entertainment licence to carry out the business of a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) at 4 Church Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2EH.

The Committee received and considered a report from the Head of Service, Public Protection which advised that an application had been submitted for a Sex Entertainment Licence to carry out the business of a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) at 4 Church Street, Ampthill. 

The Applicant’s representative and objectors attended the meeting and made representations.

The Chairman outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Chairman invited the Licensing Enforcement Officer to present the report to the Sub Committee.  The Sub Committee were advised that the Applicant Lord John Shayler had submitted an application for a Sex Entertainment Venue Licence.  The application sought the following:

Sex Entertainment Venue, to trade on the following times;

Monday          1900 – 03.30

Tuesday         19.00 – 00.30

Wednesday   19.00 – 00.30

Thursday        19.00 – 01.30

Friday             19.00 – 01.30

Saturday          19.00 – 01.30

Sunday -          Closed.

The Sub Committee noted that the premise is located in a small shopping parade with some residential property in the nearby surroundings.  A location map was attached to the report at Appendix B.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer advised that Mid Beds District Council granted a premises licence for the property in March 2008 for the provision of facilities for live music & recorded music, provision of facilities for making music, dancing, late night refreshment and supply of alcohol.

In presenting the report the Licensing Enforcement Officer drew attention to the number of representations received from the Responsible Authority – Police and Interested Parties, 40 of which had been rejected as not being relevant.

The Chairman invited the Sub Committee to ask questions of the Licensing Officer.

The Chairman invited the Applicant’s representative to present the case to the Sub Committee.

The application for a Sex Entertainment venue Licence was set out at Appendix A to the report. Mr Fender explained that Lord Shayler was unable to attend the meeting and therefore he was now here to present the case.  Mr Fender advised that Lord Shayler owns and manages two other similar clubs and that no reported Crime and Disorder issues associated with the venues had been reported. Lord Shayler had owned the premises at Ampthill for a number of years.

Mr Fender advised that if the licence be granted the premises would open in October 2012. Visually the premise would not alter and no advertising signage would be displayed. It would not be possible to see inside the premises from outside and nudity would not take place on the ground floor, this would be limited to the basement . Access to the premises would be at the rear via ‘The Oxlip’ and not directly onto the Market Square, therefore doors at the front would not be in use and would only be used as a means of fire escape.

Door Supervisors would be employed along with 50 dancers and 6 bar staff.

Mr Fender spoke in detail about the percentage of objectors and locality of the premises in relation to local schools, churches and Ampthill Park. In response to concerns raised,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

That having received representations from Mr Fender, representative for the applicant; PC Carey on behalf of the Police; Cllrs Duckett and Smith; P Ayee; L Douglas; LIllingworth; B Prickett, M Hudson and R Redmond and the following findings of facts:

• the clear evidence from Bedfordshire Police regarding the particularly low levels of crime both at the location of the premises and in the wider area of Ampthill,
• that the entrance to the premises will be via ‘The Oxslip’, and not onto the market square in Ampthill,
• the Applicant has indicated a willingness to comply with all conditions proposed by Bedfordshire Police,
• the Applicant has indicated a willingness to comply with all conditions set out in the Central Bedfordshire Council Statement of Licensing Policy for Sex Establishments,
• The existing premises licence in place for the venue, which allows for the provision of music, alcohol and late night refreshment,
• The licensing of Sex Establishments is a legitimate operation permitted by legislation.

The licence for a Sex Entertainment Venue be granted to Lord J Shayler, 4 Church Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2EH subject to the following conditions:

(1)   Access to the premises to the rear only via ‘The Oxlip’;

(2)   No signage referring to the sexual nature of the entertainment provided by the establishment to be displayed outside of the premises;

(3)   No advertising to be displayed on or the rear of the premises;

(4)   All of the police conditions as specified at Page 57 of the report;

(5)   All of the conditions and special conditions specified at Appendix E of the Central Bedfordshire Council Statement of Licensing Policy for Sex Establishments.