Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 31^st May and 14^th July 2022 as an accurate record of the proceedings.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 31^st May and 14^th July 2022 were agreed.

To note the rules of procedure relating to determinations of licenses for sexual entertainment venues.

The rules of procedure were noted.

At the request of the Chair, Ms Kathy Driver, Principal Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a new sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence for Club Oops, 30 Alie Street, London E1 8DA. It was noted that an objection had been made on behalf of the Licensing Authority. It was noted that this was an existing SEV premises and a renewal application had been made. However, that had been made after the expiry of the previous licence. The licence therefore lapsed and now a new application was made. No other representations were received during the consultation period.

Councillor Saied Ahmed arrived late for the meeting at 18:48. The Legal Adviser informed the Committee and the parties that although he was permitted to remain in the meeting he would not be permitted to participate during the decision making process because he had not been present for the whole duration of the item in consideration.

At the request of the Chair, Mr James Rankin, Legal Representative on behalf of the Applicant, Mr Santosh Nair, explained that the name ‘oops’ has never been more appropriately named than in these circumstances because oops was the only word that could probably apply to what Mr Nair had done. He explained that Mr Nair had been operating the premises for the past four years and had renewed the licence every single year without any objections/incidents and every single year the premises had been visited by Enforcement Officers save for the most recent year. He explained that for some reason this year Mr Nair was clearly under the misunderstanding that that his licence expired on the 1^st June, he was unaware that it actually expired on the 31^st May 2022. After submitting the application, Ms Kathy Driver from the Licensing Authority informed Mr Nair that the licence had expired. Mr Nair at this point immediately ceased trading and then instructed lawyers to help him with this matter which was now before the Committee .

Mr Rankin expressed how unfortunate the situation was, which could have been easily avoided had Mr Nair checked the renewal date and made the application on time.

Mr Rankin acknowledged the basis of the objection made by the Licensing Authority, on the grounds of the nil policy in place. He first highlighted that it was often the view of many Councillors and members of the public that premises such as these, where ladies disrobe for entertainment and where money is exchanged for that, in some way is distasteful and objectifies women. However, moral beliefs or objections cannot be taken into account in the determination. Mr Rankin therefore respectfully asked that Members of the Committee set aside any moral views when making their decision.

He gave a brief background of when the legislation was first introduced in 2012. He stated that these premises had always held striptease of some kind since 2009, were then regulated under the new provisions adopted by the Council in 2014 and have held  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.1

Mr Tom Lewis briefly referred to the Gambling Policy 2022-2025 set out in pages 149-310 of the agenda. He explained that as a Licensing Authority the Council must review the existing Gambling Policy and adopt a new policy in November 2022, as one of the responsibilities it has to regulate ‘high street’ premises under the Gambling Act 2005. The purpose of the policy was to define how the responsibilities under the Act are going to be exercised and administered.

It was noted that the Policy would be presented to Full Council for adoption under the provisions set out in the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee welcomed the report.

The Licensing Committee;

Resolved

1.    That the report be noted.