Agenda and minutes

Licensing Officers informed the Committee that in December 2009, Punch Taverns, being the premises licence holder for the De Burgh Arms, Station Approach, West Drayton, applied for a variation of the premises licence to allow the performance of dance for lap dancing and striptease. Following representations from the Metropolitan Police and members of the public, a hearing was held on the 26^th January 2010 to determine the application. The Licensing Sub Committee refused the application.

In February 2010, the designated premises supervisor, Mr Mukhtiar Singh Sandhu, notified the Licensing Service and the Metropolitan Police Service of the lap dancing/striptease events that were being held over 12 dates between March 2010 and June 2010 using the authority under temporary event notices.

On 14^th June 2010, the manager, Mr Richard (Ricky) Whallen, was informed that as the allocation of TEN’s had been used, the lap dancing and striptease events must stop.

On 28^th July 2010 following information received regarding allegations of lap dancing continuing in the rear function room of the De Burgh Arms, two Officers from the London Borough of Hillingdon attended the premises and witnessed four females carrying out lap dancing for members of the public.

On 29^th July 2010, an inspection was carried out by Sharon Garner, the licensing officer responsible for the premises, who was informed by both Ricky the manager and Mrs Sandhu, the wife of the designated premises supervisor, that the rear function room had not been used for lapdancing/striptease since 12^th June 2010 when the last TEN was used.

Further to 28^th July 2010, information received from the Metropolitan Police states that on 9^th August 2010 in the mid afternoon, striptease was witnessed being performed in the function room of the premises.

Due to the evidence that was gathered, a decision was made to prosecute Mr Sandhu and Mr Whallen and a case file was passed to the Council’s legal department.

On Tuesday 16^th November 2010 both defendants attended Uxbridge Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to allowing a licensable activity to be carried out without authorisation, contrary to section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Mr Sandhu was fined a total of £1,500 in fines and costs. Mr Whallen was also fined a total of £1,500 in fines and costs and his personal licence was suspended for 2 months.

Agreed:

1.      The Committee noted the update from Officers.

2.      The Committee asked Licensing Service Officers to write to the Secretary of State to encourage the use of a national database of licence holders to ensure a person whose licence has been revoked in one borough cannot visit another borough and gain a licence.