Licensing (Determinations) Sub Committee

4. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 2 May 2007 be confirmed.

5. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest made at this stage.

6. REPORT OF THE HEAD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

Application for the Review of a Premises Licence for Bar Bluu, 17 St James Street, Newport, Isle of Wight

Mr Phillip Somarakis on behalf of Mr Woodward of Bar Bluu advised the Committee that prior to today they had not had a chance to sit down with the Police and see if arbitration in the matter could be reached. He had had an opportunity to briefly speak to the Police before the start of the meeting and they both believed it would be helpful to have a meeting to try and work a way forward in the case rather than proceed with the hearing being contested.

He asked the Committee for a short adjournment to enable him and his client to have a short meeting with the Police in order to try and reach an understanding with them. Proposed conditions had already been suggested along with other actions. He believed it would be a joint application for a short adjournment.

The Chairman asked the Police if an adjournment was acceptable to them and they agreed.

The Committee agreed and the meeting was adjourned at 10.15 am.

The Committee reconvened at 11.07 am.

The Chairman indicated that she was disappointed that both parties had left it until the last hour to get together.

Mr Somarakis indicated that both parties believed it would be a joint application to seek out an adjournment for the hearing, the reason being that in order to reach a point where they could come back with agreed conditions, certain discussions needed to take place. The Police indicated that they had some concerns relating to late night disturbance. He told members that they wanted to sit down with the Police and look at the incidents and see if they related to the premises and discuss a way forward. They were prepared to look at a way forward as to how the premises were managed. He believed they had a basis for an agreement in principle and felt that it would not be right to ask for additional time today for further discussions.

Mr Peter Savill on behalf of the Police told members that a change in the management was essential as part of the Police side. A change in management had been proposed by the Club but, as yet the Police had not as yet met that person. They believed a mediated outcome was far better than an enforced outcome and the police were prepared to agree to a short adjournment of four weeks.

On the basis that there was one application that was consented and depending on what happened between today and any resumed hearing all options remained open. The Police did not want any agreement to an adjournment today to be taken as an assurance that the Police would not, if circumstances required, proceed with the application they had before the Sub Committee today on a resumed hearing. They remained optimistic and hopeful that an agreed outcome could be reached in this case and that would be put before the Sub Committee as a mutually agreed document.

The Committee was pleased to hear both parties were trying to mediate and work together to resolve the problem. The Licensing (Determinations) Sub Committee wanted to feel confident that a resolution could be found.

RESOLVED :

THAT the matter be adjourned for one month with a date to be arranged.

CHAIRMAN