Agenda and minutes

Licensing Sub-Committee (6) - Thursday 23rd November, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: Rooms 18.01 - 18.03 - 18th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP. View directions

Contact: Sarah Craddock, Committee and Councillor Co-ordinator  Email:  scraddock@westminster.gov.uk Tel: 0779098018

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Membership

To report any changes to the membership.

Minutes:

1.1       There were no changes to the membership.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

2.1       There were no deleclarations of interest.

1.

Sunset Strip, Basement to First Floor, 30 Dean Street, W1D 3SA pdf icon PDF 19 MB

Ward

Site Name & Address

Application
Type

Licensing Reference No.

West End

 

Sunset Strip

Basement to First Floor

30 Dean Street

W1D 3SA

 

Sexual Entertainment Venue – Renewal

23/05797/LISEVR

Cumulative Impact Area: N/A
Special Consideration Zone: N/A

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE No. 6

Thursday 23 November 2023

 

Membership:                      Councillor Maggie Carman (Chair), Councillor Concia Albert and Councillor Jim Glen

 

Legal Adviser:                    Michael Feeney

Policy Officer:                     Daisy Gadd

Committee Officer:             Jack Robinson-Young

Presenting Officer:             Jessica Donovan

 

Objections: Objections from the Licensing Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service

 

Present: Mr Declan Forde, Ms Lana Tricker (LT Law) and Sarah Le Fevre (Counsel) for the Applicant, Karyn Abbott and Leroy Adedeji (City Inspector) for the Licensing Authority and PC Reaz Guerra and James Rankin (Counsel) for the Metropolitan Police Service

 

 

 

1.

Application for a Renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence for Sunset Strip, Basement to Fist Floor, 30 Dean Street, London, W1D 3SA

under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009)

 

 

The Sub-Committee has determined an application for a Renewal of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Premises Licence made by Sohomead Limited to operate the Premises as a Sexual Entertainment Venue (“SEV”) between the hours of Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 01:00 Sunday 09:00 to 23:00

 

 

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

 

None

 

Submissions:

 

The Presenting Officer Ms Donovan outlined the application to the Sub-Committee. She advised that this wasan application for a Renewal of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence in respect of the Premises Sunset Strip Basement to First Floor 30 Dean Street W1D 3SA.

 

The Sub-Committee considered a request made for an adjournment by the Applicant as a preliminary issue.

 

Counsel for the Applicant, Sarah Le Fevre, addressed the Sub-Committee and outlined their request for an adjournment in respect of the first item on the agenda, the renewal of the sexual entertainment licence. Ms Le Fevre said that as laid out in the correspondence, applicants need to be given the opportunity to make full representations prior to appearing before the Sub-Committee and this had not been possible due to the timings of papers being served. Ms Le Fevre said that the decision made today by the Sub-Committee would have a great effect on the business and its ability to operate. Ms Le Fevre said that it was clear from Ms Lana Tricker’s letter that it was not laying out a case against the material itself, but rather the time that the material had been sent round to all parties. Ms Le Fevre said that in the additional papers the statement from PC Tom Stewart was dated 4th October and speaks to conversations he had in September which were serious issues for the management to deal with. Ms Le Fevre said that PC Stewart was offered CCTV footage on the day, but this was not taken up by PC Stewart. Ms Le Fevre said that the CCTV was no longer recoverable. Ms Le Fevre said there were also statements from the cleaning staff on the number of patrons in the premises which again, cannot now be taken. Ms Le Fevre said there was also a range of other material they wished to gather up and present, to show actions that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Sunset Strip, Basement to First Floor, 30 Dean Street, W1D 3SA pdf icon PDF 9 MB

Ward

Site Name & Address

Application
Type

Licensing Reference No.

West End

 

 

Sunset Strip

Basement to First Floor

30 Dean Street

W1D 3SA

 

Sexual Entertainment Venue Variation

23/05227/LISEVV

Cumulative Impact Area: N/A

Special Consideration Zone: N/A

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE No. 6

Thursday 23 November 2023

 

Membership:                      Councillor Maggie Carman (Chair), Councillor Concia Albert and Councillor Jim Glen

 

Legal Adviser:                    Michael Feeney

Policy Officer:                     Daisy Gadd

Committee Officer:             Jack Robinson-Young

Presenting Officer:             Jessica Donovan

 

Objections: Objection from the Licensing Authority

 

Present: Mr Declan Forde, Ms Lana Tricker (LT Law) and Sarah Le Fevre (Counsel) for the Applicant, Karyn Abbott and Leroy Adedeji (City Inspector) for the Licensing Authority and PC Reaz Guerra and James Rankin (Counsel) for the Metropolitan Police Service

 

 

 

1.

Application for Variation of a Sex Establishment Licence for Sunset Strip, Basement to Fist Floor, 30 Dean Street, London, W1D 3SA

under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009)

 

 

The Sub-Committee has determined an application for Variation of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Premises Licence made by Sohomead Limited.

 

 

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

 

None

 

Submissions:

 

The Presenting Officer Ms Donovan outlined the application to the Sub-Committee. She advised that this wasan application for a Variation of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence in respect of the Premises Sunset Strip Basement to First Floor 30 Dean Street W1D 3SA.

 

At the beginning of the meeting, the Chair informed those present that all three items before the Sub-Committee would be heard together. There were no objections to this course of action.

Ms Le Fevre outlined the applications to the Sub-Committee. Ms Le Fevre said she understood, given the comments in 2020, why their request for an adjournment had been denied. Ms Le Fevre said she had no instructions to defend the indefensible. Ms Le Fevre said that Members knew from the papers that the property was due to undergo a significant investment in 2024. Ms Le Fevre said that Members would want to hear how they had taken steps towards addressing issues that had been raised, some of which had already been taken by the Applicant company. Ms Le Fevre said it was the intention that the current premises licence holder pass on this licence to a new operator. Ms Le Fevre said that the first observation in the papers before Members was in February and that the manager at the time was no longer in place. Ms Le Fevre said it was shortly after this that Mr Forde’s mother passed away, and during a period of between 6 to 8 weeks he was unfortunately out of action. During this time, Ms Le Fevre said a general manager was employed to replace the previous manager and helped address the temporary absence of Mr Forde.

Ms Le Fevre said that Mr Gavin Venamore was employed during this time and was seen as a reputable figure given he had previously worked for Westminster City Council. Ms Le Fevre said that her client came to understand that there were problems with how Mr Venamore was training staff and general performance. Ms Le Fevre said that the first step that had to be undertaken was the removal of Mr Venamore, which has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Sunset Strip, Basement to First Floor, 30 Dean Street, W1D 3SA pdf icon PDF 8 MB

Ward
CIA*
SCZ**

Site Name & Address

Application
Type

Licensing Reference No.

West End

 

* West End

 

** None

 

Sunset Strip

Basement to First Floor

30 Dean Street

W1D 3SA

 

Premises Licence Variation

23/04998/LIPV

*Cumulative Impact Area
** Special Consideration Zone

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE NO. 6

(“The Committee”)

 

Thursday 23 November 2023

 

Membership:           Councillor Maggie Carman (Chair), Councillor Concia Albert and Councillor Jim Glen

 

Officer Support:       Legal Adviser:                    Michael Feeney

                                Policy Officer:                     Daisy Gadd

                                Committee Officer:             Jack Robinson-Young

                                 Presenting Officer:             Jessica Donovan

 

Present: Mr Declan Forde, Ms Lana Tricker (LT Law) and Sarah Le Fevre (Counsel) for the Applicant, Karyn Abbott and Leroy Adedeji (City Inspector) for the Licensing Authority

 

Application for a Premises Licence Variation in respect of Sunset Strip, Basement to First Floor, 30 Dean Street, London, W1D 3SA

 

 

Full Decision

Premises: 

 

Sunset Strip

Basement to First Floor

30 Dean Street

London

W1D 3SA

 

Applicant

 

Sohomead Limited

 

Ward

 

West End

 

Cumulative Impact Area

 

West End

 

Special Consideration Zone

 

N/A

 

 

Representations Received

 

  • Licensing Authority

 

Issues raised by Objectors

 

·       Insufficient information has been submitted. The Licensing Authority raised concerns about the use of the lounge on the first floor and the use of the terrace.

 

 

Policy Considerations

 

Policies CIP1, HRS1 and SCEV1 apply under the City Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy (“SLP”).

 

 

Submissions by the Parties

 

The Presenting Officer Ms Donovan outlined the application to the Sub-Committee. She advised that this wasan application for a Variation of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence in respect of the Premises Sunset Strip Basement to First Floor 30 Dean Street W1D 3SA.

 

At the beginning of the meeting, the Chair informed those present that all three items before the Sub-Committee would be heard together. There were no objections to this course of action.

Ms Le Fevre outlined the applications to the Sub-Committee. Ms Le Fevre said she understood, given the comments in 2020, why their request for an adjournment had been denied. Ms Le Fevre said she had no instructions to defend the indefensible. Ms Le Fevre said that Members knew from the papers that the property was due to undergo a significant investment in 2024. Ms Le Fevre said that Members would want to hear how they had taken steps towards addressing issues that had been raised, some of which had already been taken by the Applicant company. Ms Le Fevre said it was the intention that the current premises licence holder pass on this licence to a new operator. Ms Le Fevre said that the first observation in the papers before Members was in February and that the manager at the time was no longer in place. Ms Le Fevre said it was shortly after this that Mr Forde’s mother passed away, and during a period of between 6 to 8 weeks he was unfortunately out of action. During this time, Ms Le Fevre said a general manager was employed to replace the previous manager and helped address the temporary absence of Mr Forde.

Ms Le Fevre said that Mr Gavin Venamore was employed during this time and was seen as a reputable figure given he had previously worked for Westminster City Council. Ms Le Fevre said that her client came to understand that there were problems with how Mr  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.