Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nawaz, Todd, Winslade and Saltmarsh.

Councillors Stokes and Harrington attended as substitutes.

Councillor Allen declared that she used to live along Jubliee Street, however this would in no way affect her decision.

          The Senior Governance Officer addressed the Committee and advised that the Director of Darker Enterprises had intended to be present at the meeting but due to the bad weather he had not been able to attend, however the hearing was to continue in his absence.

A written statement had been submitted by the applicant in support of the application and Members were given the opportunity to read through the statement and to consider the points made.

          The Regulatory Officer addressed the Committee and advised that the application was for the renewal of a sex establishment licence at the Private Shop, 75 Oundle Road, Peterborough, made by Darker Enterprises.

          The report detailed the background to the application, including the issues raised and representation received. The Committee was advised that the applicant had submitted the application on 25 October 2010.

The application requested the trading hours of:

·         Monday to Saturday between 9.30am and 8.00pm; and

·         Sunday between 10.00am and 4.00pm

Members were advised that the applicant had also applied to open on 27 and 28 December 2010, and 3 January 2011. This additional application was to take into account the Bank Holidays around the Christmas and New Year period.

Members were advised that Darker Enterprises had held a sex establishment licence at the premises since 18 September 2001 and an outline of the current conditions was provided to Members.

          The Regulatory Officer further advised Members that there had been one anonymous representation received against the application. This was from a local resident and was concerning the close proximity of the premises to the proposed Anglia Ruskin University campus and it stated that the premises would not be conducive to the positive image of the locale.

          In response to a question from Members, the Regulatory Officer advised that there had been no complaints received against the premises and annual inspections were carried out.

The Regulatory Officer summed up the case for the Licensing Department and Members debated the application.

RESOLVED

The Committee agreed:

      1.  to grant the application for a sex establishment licence renewal during the    hours requested in the committee report, those being:

·         Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 8.00pm;and

·         Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm. 

2. to grant the additional application to allow the premises to open on 27 December, 28 December 2010 and 3 January 2011, to take into account  the bank holidays around the Christmas and New Year period.

Reasons for the decision:

The Committee was satisfied that, considering the positive trading history of the premises, the renewal of the sex establishment licence would have no negative effect on the surrounding area.