Issue - meetings

Wellhot Limited have applied for the renewal of the Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence to permit relevant entertainment to continue for a further twelve month period at the premises.

The licensing authority has received 5 objections.

Present:

BCP Council:

Sarah Rogers – Senior Licensing Officer

Linda Cole – Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub-Committee

Christiane Tan – Democratic Services, observing for training purposes

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

The Licensing Officer presented the 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 Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence for the premises known as ‘Wiggle’, 159 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, to permit relevant entertainment to continue for a further twelve-month period.

Five valid representations had been received, and it was confirmed that there had been no representations received from any of the responsible authorities.

Following publication of the Officer’s report, further documentation was provided from the Applicant in response to the representations, a copy of which had been circulated and a copy of which appears as Appendix  ‘B’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.

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

Applicant:

Mr Paul Ojla - Applicant

Mr Taran Ojla - General Manager

Objector: Mrs Susan Stockwell

The other 4 anonymous objectors did not attend.

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.

RESOLVED that the application to renew the Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence for the premises known as ‘Wiggle’, 159 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH1 1JS be GRANTED.

Reasons for the Decision: 

The Sub-Committee considered all the information which had been submitted before the Hearing including the report for Agenda Item 5,?‘Wiggle’, 159 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. The Sub-Committee also considered the written and verbal submissions made by objector Susan Stockwell and the written submissions of 4 other objectors, and the written and verbal submissions of the applicant, Mr Paul Ojla, owner of the premises, and Mr Taran Ojla, Managing Director. 

The Sub-Committee had regard to the provisions of Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (“the 1982 Act”), and the statutory grounds upon which an application may be refused.

The Sub?Committee did not find the Applicant to be unsuitable to hold a Sexual Entertainment Venue licence. Members were reminded that BCP Council no longer had a Sex Establishments Policy in force, and accordingly the only relevant grounds for consideration were the ‘discretionary’ grounds set out in paragraph 12(3)(d) of Schedule 3. The Sub?Committee therefore focused its consideration on whether the character of the locality or the use to which other premises in the locality are put rendered the renewal of the licence inappropriate.

Character of locality 

The Sub-Committee noted that the premises has operated as a lap dancing club in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 190