Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dennis.

To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest advice attached to this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete the Declaration of Interest Form 

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the Minutes of the Licensing Board meeting held on 18 February 2025, copy attached.

Councillor Rogers proposed, Councillor Scobie seconded and Members agreed that the minutes of the Licensing Board held on 18 February be signed as a correct record.

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting on agenda item 5 as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Mrs Stocker, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the Applicant.

The Applicant did not have questions for Mrs Stocker.

The Applicant addressed the Board.

Members of the Board asked questions of the Applicant.

Following the discussion, the Applicant and Licensing Officers were asked to leave the Chamber while the Board deliberated.

Once the Board came to a decision, the Applicant and Licensing Officers were invited back into the Chamber and Mr Hodkinson, Interim Principal Litigation Lawyer, addressed the meeting and read out the Board’s decision which was as detailed below:

The Board have considered all the evidence presented at the hearing. This included the evidence presented in the agenda and the response of the Applicant to the questions put to him by members.

The Board have to consider if the Applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The matter comes before the Board because the Applicant had declared in his application that he had received a caution for criminal damage. The Applicant gave a full and frank explanation as to the circumstances which gave rise to the caution. The incident arose from a relationship breakdown. He has acknowledged his wrongdoing. The Applicant stated, and the Board accepts, that he was previously of good character and had not been involved with the Police before this incident. In the circumstances, the Board are satisfied that the Applicant’s conduct was an isolated incident.

The Applicant explained that he has since had counselling to deal with the relationship breakdown and now has a reasonably good relationship with his ex-partner.

The Board is satisfied the Applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The application for a licence is granted for a period of three years.