Issue - meetings

ABS Holdings have applied for the renewal of the Sex Establishment Licence to permit the premises known as ‘Simply Pleasure.com’, 333 – 335 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth BH8 8BT, to trade as a sex shop for a further twelve-month period.

The Licensing Authority has received three objections and two letters in support.

This matter is brought before the Licensing Sub Committee for determination.

Present:

From BCP Council:

Sarah Rogers – Licensing Officer

Johanne McNamara – Legal Advisor to the Sub Committee

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub Committee

The Chair made introductions and explained the procedure for the hearing which was agreed by all parties.  

The Licensing Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘A’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.

The Sub Committee was asked to consider an application for the renewal of the Sex Establish Licence of the premises known as ‘Simply Pleasure.com’, 333-335 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8BT to permit the premises to trade as a sex shop for a further twelve-month period. The Licensing Authority had received 3 objections and 2 letters in support of the application.

The following persons attended the hearing and addressed the Sub Committee to expand on the points made in their written submissions:

Tom Clark – on behalf of the Applicant, ABS Holdings

Susan Stockwell – Objector

The Chair advised that one of the objectors, named as ‘objector number 3’ in the report pack, had submitted 3 written questions on the morning of the hearing, as they were no longer able to attend. The Chair advised that he would read the questions out for a response at the appropriate time during the hearing.

The Sub Committee asked various questions of all parties present and was grateful for the responses received. All parties had the opportunity to ask questions. All parties were invited to sum up before the Sub Committee retired to make its decision. Before concluding the hearing, the Legal Advisor advised all parties of the right of appeal, as appropriate.

RESOLVED that the application to renew the Sex Establishment Licence for the premises known as ‘Simply Pleasure.Com’, 333 – 335 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth BH8 8BT be GRANTED subject to the following conditions: 

                        i.‘.com’ be removed from the front fascia of the premises; and

                       ii.that the ‘General Conditions for a Sex Establishment’, as   shown in Appendix 3 of the Report, page 29, paragraph 30, be amended to read ‘No window shall contain any sign, advertising material, goods or display without the written consent of the Council. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes any window display. The window shall only bear a suitable display approved by the Council as and when it is changed’. 

The Sub Committee considered in detail all the information which had been submitted before the hearing, including the Senior Licensing Officer’s report, the written submissions of the three objectors, the written submission of the applicant, Mr Timothy Hemming, and the supplementary papers.  

The Sub Committee also considered the verbal submissions made by Sarah Rogers, the Senior Licensing Officer, Mrs Susan Stockwell, one of the objectors and Mr Tom Clark, who attended on behalf of the applicant.  

The Sub Committee was grateful to all parties for their responses to questions raised at the hearing.  

Reasons for Decision: 

In making its decision the Sub Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59