Agenda and minutes

Under the terms of reference for the Licensing Committee each Sub-Committee is required to elect a Chairman on an ad hoc basis for the duration of the meeting.

            RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the terms of reference for the Licensing Committee, Councillor M Cohen be elected Chairman for the duration of the Sub-Committee meeting.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct.

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business, and the terms of reference.

Decision Required: 

To consider the application to vary the Premises Licence for Club 195, 195-199 Cottis Lane, Epping.

(Head of Environmental Services) The application is attached.

Representations have been received from Essex Police and two interested parties. 

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors M Cohen, Mrs R Gadsby and Mrs K Rush. The Chairman welcomed the participants and requested that they introduce themselves to the Sub-Committee. In attendance on behalf of the application were: Mr S Cummins, the Designated Premises Supervisor; Mr L Hoddinott, the applicant’s legal representative; and Mr J Copenhall, the applicant’s adviser for the form of entertainment proposed. Mr S Fisher was in attendance of behalf of Essex Police, who had objected to the application. The Chairman then introduced the members and officers present, and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application.

(a)        The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Principal Team Leader (Consumer Protection) informed the Sub-Committee that an application to vary a Premises Licence had been received in respect of Club 195, situated in Cottis Lane, Epping, along with representations from interested parties. The application had requested permission for the performance of dance, to include nude or semi-nude professional dancers, from 11.00am to 4.00am on Mondays to Saturdays inclusive.

(b)            Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

The applicant’s legal representative reminded the Sub-Committee that the premises had opened in October 2003, and the current licence had been granted in 2005 with a variation agreed in August 2006. The application was to allow professional dancers to perform at the premises with music provided by a disc jockey from Mondays to Saturdays inclusive. The premises had suffered a loss of business since opening hours had been extended for other establishments in the vicinity, hence the premises were examining various innovative solutions to grow the business and this would be a unique form of entertainment in the local area. The Sub-Committee were requested to disregard the representation made by Mr and Mrs Clarke as their objection had been based upon moral grounds, not matters covered by the Licensing Act 2003.

The applicant’s adviser for such entertainment informed the Sub-Committee that this would be more of a adult leisure activity; customers would be greeted, shown to a table, service would be provided by waitresses and the dancers would circulate around the tables. There would only be semi-nude dancers in the main area of the premises, with any nude dancing occurring in the private area, as this would be more secure. The rules would be explained to the customers as they arrived, as the whole evening was intended to be more like a restaurant experience rather than a nightclub. The Sub-Committee’s attention was drawn to the Operating Policy and House Rules that had been circulated and were informed that these policies had evolved over the last decade.

(c)            Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

The fire alarm sounded at 10.30am and the Sub-Committee was adjourned as all participants were requested to leave the building by the Democratic Services Officer and congregate at the rendezvous point. The Sub-Committee reconvened at 11.15am when the building had been declared safe to re-enter.

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, the applicant’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.