Agenda item

An application for a Review of a Premises Licence in respect of The Goal Post (Lounge 107), 107 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4RB, had been received from West Midlands Police.

The Chair led round-table introductions and outlined the procedure to be followed.

Joanne Till, Section Leader, Licensing, provided an outline of the application. Sgt Steph Reynolds, West Midlands Police (applicant), confirmed that the summary was accurate.

The Chair invited West Midlands Police to present their application. Sgt Reynolds did so. She advised the Sub-Committee that immediately before the Hearing, further mediation had taken place between herself and Piers Warne, Solicitor representing Punch Taverns, Premises Licence Holder, regarding the Licence conditions. Amendments to the original proposal had been agreed and the Sub-Committee had been provided with a copy of the newly amended conditions, along with additional photographic evidence of items seized from the premises. Sgt Reynolds confirmed that all proposed conditions had been agreed by both parties except for the condition regarding the provision of door staff. She explained the reasons why she felt door staff were required at the premises and stated she would be happy to review this condition in time. Sgt Reynolds requested that current Premises Licence was modified not revoked.

The Chair afforded all parties present the opportunity to question the applicant in relation to her submission. Sgt Steph Reynolds provided the following responses to questions asked:

• Police background checks would be carried out on prospective new management staff.
• The current CCTV provisions at the premises would be extended.
• Door staff were not required at the premises during week days as historically, the premises had no issues during these times and footfall was low.
• The Police had no concerns regarding the outside are of the premises.
• The Police believed that issues at the premises were the fault of the management not Punch Taverns, Premises Licence Holder.

The Chair invited the Licensing Authority to make representations. Mrs Elaine Moreton did so as per Appendix 4 of the report.

The Chair invited all parties present to question the Licensing Authority in relation to its submission. Mrs Moreton provided responses to questions asked.

The Chair invited the Premises Licence Holder to make representations.

Mr Piers Warne, Solicitor representing Punch Taverns, Premises Licence Holder, stated the following:

• Issues at the premises were the fault of the management not Punch Taverns, Premises Licence Holder (PLH).
• Such problems were very rare, and Punch Taverns would not tolerate them.
• Punch Taverns were willing to invest significantly to improve the premises to ensure no further issues occurred.
• Not all cliental at the premises were associated with crime.
• Punch Taverns had supported the suspension of the licence and would work with the Police and Local Authority to improve the premises.
• Issues occurring prior to 27 June 2018 had not come to the attention of Punch Taverns.
• Punch Taverns had a tenanted pub approach.
• Obligations were imposed on tenants under legal agreements which allowed them to forfeit where appropriate.
• Following the Expedited Review of the Premises on 29 June 2018, the lease on the property had been terminated; the residents had been evicted, and locks had been changed.
• Short-term and long-term plans were in place for the premises, including a £250,000 refurbishment and re-opening under new management.
• Punch Taverns would have more direct involvement with the premises.
• Punch Taverns had agreed to all conditions proposed by West Midlands Police but requested that the Sub-Committee carefully considered the need for SIA registered door staff following the re-opening of the premises.

The Chair invited all parties present to question the Premises Licence Holder in relation to his submission and Members expressed their concerns regarding public safety. Mr Warne provided the following responses to questions asked:

• Punch Taverns were not aware of any issues at the premises prior to 27 June 2018 and when made aware, immediate action was taken.
• More face to face visits would be made to the premises by Punch Taverns.
• The new management would be carefully scrutinised and monitored.
• Punch Taverns were shocked by the issues at the premises; they had taken it very seriously and welcomed the previous licence suspension.
• The issue had been with the management not Punch Taverns.
• The premises did not have a long history of problems.
• Punch Taverns wanted to work with the Police to ensure there were no further issues at the premises.
• The new management would be fully supported in their role.
• Punch Taverns would work with the Police to ensure the correct management team were implemented.

The Chair invited all parties present to make their final address.

Mrs Moreton, Mr Warne and Sgt Steph Reynolds made closing statements.

All interested parties, with the exception of the Senior Solicitor and the Democratic Services Officer, withdrew from the meeting to enable the Sub-Committee to determine the matter.

All interested parties were invited back to the meeting and the Chair advised them of the decision of the Sub-Committee, which was read out in full by the Senior Solicitor. 

Resolved: 

The Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to modify the conditions of the licence in respect of the Goal Post Public House.

The modified conditions were as follows:

1.    A Challenge 25 programme would be implemented at the premises and photo identification would be requested and be produced by anyone that appeared to be under 25 years of age. Staff would receive sufficient training in challenging underage drinking and this training would be documented and produced for examination at the request of an officer from a Responsible Authority.

2.    A CCTV system with recording equipment would be installed. Sufficient staff would be trained in the use of the system and the downloading of recordings and a trained member of staff shall either be present or readily available at all times during opening hours. The DPS would also be trained in the use of the CCTV system and have full access to the system at all times.

3.    All recorded images from the CCTV system would be made available for inspection as soon as it was practicable upon request by an officer of a responsible authority. A copy of images would also be made available upon request and within 24 hours.

4.    The CCTV images would be of evidential quality and indicate the correct time and date. All storage, retention and provision of must be on the basis of current UK Data Protection Legislation and in line with guidance from the Information Commissioners Office in relation to the provision of CCTV in Public Houses. All images from the CCTV system would be retained for 28 days.

5.    The Premises should maintain a bound and paginated incident log book. The incident log book should be updated within 24 hours of an incident, where the entry was later it would record the date and reason for delay. As a minimum it would record all crime reported to the venue, ejection of patrons, complaints concerning crime, disorder or public nuisance, all seizure of drugs or offensive weapons, faults to the CCTV system, refusal of alcohol sales, visits by any of the responsible authorities or emergency services. The incident book would be made available to any responsible authorities upon request and would be provided to Wolverhampton Police Licensing department weekly via email until such time as Wolverhampton Police Licensing department agreed in writing that such provision was no longer necessary.

6.    A sign in the car park would be displayed stating that access to the car park was for patrons only.

7.    The DPS and the Tenant would have access via keys to all areas within the public house and anywhere on the premises that was not a private dwelling.

8.    A search policy would be written by the DPS and adhered to prior to re-opening to the public. This policy would be agreed by Wolverhampton Police Licensing Department at the point of implementation only and fully implemented by door staff when they were present (not including Wolverhampton Wanderers match days). Metal detecting wands would be used as part of that search policy. The search policy would be available to Police Licensing Officers on request.

9.    All door staff would be SIA registered and wear high visibility attire. A minimum of 2 door staff would be present at the premises from Friday to Sunday inclusive from 21.00 hours until patrons had left the premises until the premises closed for refurbishment. When the premises reopened after the refurbishment was complete a minimum of 2 door staff would be present at the premises from Friday to Sunday inclusive from 21.00 hours until patrons had left the premises for 14 days from the reopening date.

10. On match days, when Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club played at home, a minimum of 2 door staff would be on for a period of at least 2 hours before kick-off and 2 hours after the final whistle.

The current suspension of the Premises Licence was removed.

The Licensing Sub-Committee had taken the view that the implementation of robust conditions, which were agreed between the parties, were necessary and proportionate to uphold the licensing objectives.

The Senior Solicitor stated that there was a Right of Appeal available to all parties to the local Magistrates Court within 21 days from receipt of the decision letter should they feel aggrieved by the decision.