Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair of this meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor Flagg be elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the duration of the meeting.

Voting: Unanimous

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The protocol for public speaking at Licensing Sub Committee hearings is included with the agenda sheet for noting.

The protocol for public speaking was noted.

An application has been received 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.

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

Present:

BCP Council:

Nananka Randle – Licensing Manager

Sarah Rogers – Licensing Officer

Linda Cole – Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub-Committee

Cllr Patrick Canavan – 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.

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

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

Applicant and Representatives:

Mr Paul Ojla - Applicant

Mr Taran Ojla - General Manager

Objector: Mrs Susan Stockwell

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.

The Sub-Committee resolved to grant the application to renew the Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence for the premises known as ‘Wiggle’, 159 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH1 1JS. 

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Reasons for the Decision: 

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The Sub-Committee considered in detail all the information which had been submitted before the Hearing and contained in the report for Agenda Item 5,?‘Wiggle’, 159 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. 

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The Sub-Committee also considered the written and verbal submissions submitted by the objector Susan Stockwell and the written submissions of a second objector, together with the written and verbal submissions of the applicant, Mr Paul Ojla, owner of the premises, and Mr Taran Ojla, General Manager. 

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The Sub-Committee had regard to the provisions of Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (“the 1982 Act”), and in particular the available grounds for refusing the application contained within that Schedule. They did not find that the Applicant was unsuitable to hold a sexual entertainment venue licence and were reminded that BCP Council no longer had a Sex Establishments Policy. It was agreed that the only grounds to be considered were the ‘discretionary’ grounds set out in paragraph 12(3)(d) of Schedule 3. It was to those grounds that the Sub-Committee turned their focus. 

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Character of locality 

The Sub-Committee noted that the premises has operated as a lap dancing club in the same location since 2006. Since 2010 when such premises were required to operate under a Sexual Entertainment Venue licence, such a licence has been in place and applications made annually for it to renewed as is required by the Act. Although the character of the locality had evolved and changed throughout this period, it was still  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

In relation to the items of business appearing below, the Committee is asked to consider the following resolution: -

‘That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.’

NOTE: The exemption is in relation to the appendices attached to the public report for agenda item 7.

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.

The Licensing Team have received information from Dorset Police in a witness statement which raised concerns about the conduct of a Licenced Hackney Carriage Driver who is also the proprietor of a Private Hire Vehicle. They consider that the information provided raises serious concerns in regard to the standard of behaviour expected of a licensed driver.

In addition the same named driver is linked to separate information submitted to the Licensing Team.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is asked to determine whether the driver remains ‘fit and proper ‘to hold a Hackney Carriage driver licence.

This item was restricted by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt information – Categories 1 (information relating to any individual) and 2 (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Present:

From BCP Council:

Linda Cole – Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee

Nananka Randle – Licensing Manager

Sarah Rogers – Senior Licensing Officer

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub Committee

Cllr Patrick Canavan – Observing for training purposes

The driver was in attendance.

The Chair made introductions and explained the procedure to be followed in considering this item, which was agreed by all parties present.

The Licensing Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Sub Committee was asked to consider whether the applicant was deemed to be a ‘fit and proper’ person to allow them to continue to hold a Hackney Carriage Drivers Licence for BCP Council.

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

The Sub-Committee RESOLVED that the driver is not a ‘fit and proper person’ and there is reasonable cause to revoke his Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence with immediate effect in accordance with section 61(2B) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 in the interests of public safety. 

Reason for Decision: 

The Sub-Committee considered all the information which had been submitted before the Hearing and contained in the report for Agenda Item 7, along with the verbal submissions made at the hearing by the driver, and Nananka Randle, Licensing Manager. 

In considering the test of a ‘fit and proper person’, the Sub-Committee also had regard to the BCP Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Policy 2021 - 2025, the provisions of Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Institute of Licensing (IOL) Guidance on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees in the Hackney and Private Hire Trades (2018) and the guidance within the Department of Transport Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards (updated November 2022). 

The Sub-Committee noted that Dorset Police shared a Police statement made by the driver regarding a separate ongoing investigation linked to county lines with the Licensing Department on 25^th March 2025, as the Police had serious concerns regarding his behaviour as a licensed driver.  

In that statement the driver stated that he gave out his phone number to customers that asked for it and he took private bookings.  

The Sub-Committee were very concerned about the circumstances described in the statement and that the driver, despite undertaking the ‘Blue Lamp Trust Safeguarding Awareness Training’ in 2023, which includes how to identify and report suspicious activity and to understand what  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.