Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st September 2023 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Sub-Committee meeting on 21^st September 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: that at a predetermined point during the consideration of all items the Sub-Committee would move into private session in order to receive legal advice when determining issues. The parties to the hearing, press and the public, unless otherwise excluded by the Council’s Access to information Procedure Rules would be invited to return immediately following that private session at which time the matter will be determined and the decision of the Sub-Committee will be announced.

Application for the variation of a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) Licence - Playhouse, Basement, 35 London Road, Southampton, SO15 2AD.

The Sub-Committee has considered very carefully the application for the variation of the sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence in respect of Playhouse, Basement, 35 London Road, Southampton, SO15 2AD.

The Sub-Committee has given due regard to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, statutory guidance, its own policy where relevant, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Public Sector Equality Duty under section 149, Equality Act 2010, and Human Rights legislation.

The Sub-Committee considered representations both written and given orally at the meeting today.

The Manager, Licence Holder and the Director of the applicant company for the premises were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

The Sub-Committee noted that no objection had been received and that Hampshire Constabulary Licensing Team had not objected to the application. 

The application for variation of the SEV Licence requested to change the current licence as follows:

·  To change the front appearance of the premises to include signage for advertising karaoke.

RESOLVED: That the application for the variation of the Sexual Entertainment Venue licence be approved to change the appearance of the frontage of the premises to allow exterior signage to advertise the karaoke element of the business, with all conditions remaining unchanged including the opening hours.

Reasons

Paragraph 18 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 provides that the holder of a sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence may at any time apply for any variation of the terms, conditions, or restrictions on or subject to which the licence is held.

The sub-committee noted that the sexual entertainment licence was already granted, and therefore the only decision for them to make was the variation to the licence to amend the frontage.

The Hampshire Constabulary Licensing Team have advised that they have no objection to the application.

The Sub-Committee noted that no objections have been raised. The Senior Licensing Officer confirmed that the Licensing Team was content with the application.

There was no compelling evidence presented to the Sub-Committee that would justify refusal of the application or any reason for amendments to the variations applied for.

The Sub-Committee noted that the signage was already in place, and that this amounted to a retrospective application. The Applicant explained that this was because the business putting up the signage had an opening to decorate it early, and no disrespect was intended. Although the sub-committee were disappointed with the fact that the decoration had already been carried out prior to permission being given, they noted that the business was well run generally and were content that the frontage was acceptable.

There is a right of appeal full details of which will be provided in the written decision.