Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: This meeting will be held via tele-conference.

Contact: Kenna Victoria Healey, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

35.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

36.

Declarations of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

37.

Application for a Summary Review of a Premises Licence pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair asked all parties if they had any requests, and it was noted that there were no requests.

 

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the report to Members of the Sub-Committee and in doing so explained this was the full hearing, following the review summary hearing held on 13 March 2020 to determine the interim steps to be taken for the application in respect of the Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays RM162JU.

 

He continued by ensuring that all parties had received the supplementary documents circulated by Essex Police. It was confirmed that had. The Principal Licensing Officer then advised Members, they had 2 decisions to make in respect to the application. The first was in relation to the interim steps they decide on at the summery hearing and the second was an overall decision following the current hearing.

 

Members, Essex Police and the applicant were provided the chance to ask questions of the Licensing Officer. There were none

 

The Licensing Officer for Essex Police addressed Members explaining that on  Saturday 7 March 2020 a call was received from the Duty Manager at the Civic Hall, stating that multiple fights had broken out following a boxing event at the premises. These fights had started inside the premises and had then spilled out into the car park. 

 

She continued by stating that considerable police resources across Essex had to be deployed to restore order and police officers were compelled to remain onsite until after 01:00am to prevent a recurrence after order had been restored. Members were advised that Essex Police did not have knowledge of the Boxing match, if they had, it was possible the events following the Boxing match could have been prevented.

 

Members heard how officers attending the scene reported that multiple low-level assaults were disclosed to them, tables and chairs were thrown, and embers of the audience were assaulted. Members of the security team and door staff who tried to intervene and break up the fights were also assaulted by being punched and struck with chairs and tables causing injuries.

 

It was then highlighted that Document 1 within the supplementary pack was a duty report from PC Weddell, giving her account of the incident

 

The Licensing Officer for Essex Police stated they wished for the interim steps to remain in place and welcomed the new lines of communication between the Police and the applicant.

 

Members, Licensing Officer for the Local Authority and the application were given an opportunity to ask questions to Essex Police. There were none from the Licensing Officer and the applicant.

 

The Chair of the Sub-Committee sought clarification that the Police were not looking to revoke the licence. It was confirmed that this was correct.

 

It was also confirmed that the applicant was in the process of complying with the police suggestion of CCTV to include face recognition.

 

Councillor Ralph sought as to the Boxing match being over sold. The Licensing Officer for the Police explained she was not aware of this being the case, however  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.