Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 12^th March 2024 and the Sub-Committee hearing held on 18^th March 2024.

The Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 12 March 2024 and the Sub Committee Hearing held on 18 March 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Committee considered an application for a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for Club Heat, Hertford Place, Coventry, CV1 3JZ. The application requested the following opening times: Monday – Sunday 18:00 – 06:00 hours.

The Licensing Officer presented the report and gave an outline of the application to the Committee. She explained that the Applicants had held a SEV Licence for Club Heat, 7 City Arcade, Coventry since 17^th April 2012 but was looking to relocate due to a Compulsory Purchase Order issued by Coventry City Council due to the City Centre South redevelopment programme.

No objections had been received from any of the Responsible Authorities. Objections were received from other persons after the final date for objections of 29^th April 2024. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, the Committee considered whether they would exercise their discretion to hear the late objections, stating as follows:-

“A local authority is under a duty to consider any objections made within 28 days of the application. However, Home Office guidance surrounding SEV’s states that it has discretion to hear later objections provided the applicant is given the opportunity to deal with those objections. The Committee considered the reasons for the late objections, which came in over two and a half weeks past the deadline of 29th April 2024. The Committee also considered the representations of the Applicant, and note that a lawful consultation was carried out. As such, the Committee have decided not to exercise their discretion to hear the late objections, and the hearing will proceed as scheduled this morning.”

Public Health had submitted a representation in support of the application following a meeting with the Applicant at the proposed venue.

The Applicant’s Legal Representative outlined the case for the Applicant. He explained that the venue had operated lawfully and without any significant issue in the city for 19 years, the last 12 of which have been under an SEV Licence. He explained that the basis for the application was the requirement for the premises to relocate, and that the Applicant had actively been looking for a suitable premises together with the Police and Licensing Authorities. The Applicant reassured the Committee that the current management team have worked cooperatively with the Council and Police for many years and would continue to do so.

The Applicant took the Committee through the area plans and the layout of the premises, explaining that the nearby nursery is closed and had been for some time, and is currently being advertised for sale with a number of different potential uses including a nightclub. The Applicant also turned the Committee’s attention to the witness statements of himself, the club manager and the area manager, explaining their roles within the business and offering the Committee to ask them any questions about the operations of the premises.

An officer from Public Health provided some representations in support, explaining that the Applicant had embraced working with Public Health to ensure the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of public business.