To appoint a Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cllr Cannon be appointed Chairman of the Sub Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

None.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To note the procedural details for the meeting.

The clerk outlined the procedure for the meeting that would be followed. All parties indicated they understood.

To consider the renewal of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence under schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 of Honeypot, 81 Queen Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1LT.

Officer Reporting’s statement

Craig Hawkings, Licensing Enforcement Officer, introduced the item and went through the report. He explained that the Sub Committee had been called to consider the application to renew the Sexual Entertainment Venue licence of the premises known as The Honeypot, 81 Queen Street, Maidenhead SL6 1LT. Such licences were renewed on an annual basis, and the licence for this premises had been renewed each year since first being granted in 2011. There were no proposed changes to operating hours or conditions of the licence. Craig Hawkings said the proposed renewal had been brought to the Sub Committee as objections had been raised on behalf of residents living nearby, which made a hearing necessary. He said no objections to the renewal had been made by Thames Valley Police, and there were no outstanding complaints relating to the venue or vicinity.

Craig Hawkings told the Panel that an application or renewal could not be refused on moral grounds or values. He drew Members’ attention to Paragraph 12 Section 3 of the relevant act, which stated that a licence could be refused:

(a) if the applicant is unsuitable to hold the licence by reason of having been convicted of an offence or for any other reason.

(b) if the licence were to be granted, renewed or transferred the business to which it relates would be managed by or carried on for the benefit of a person, other than the applicant, who would be refused the grant, renewal or transfer of such a licence if he made the application himself;

(c) the number of sex establishments, or of sex establishments of a particular kind, in the relevant locality at the time the application is determined is equal to or exceeds the number which the authority consider is appropriate for that locality.

(d) that the grant or renewal of the licence would be inappropriate, having regard

(i) to the character of the relevant locality; or

(ii) to the use to which any premises in the vicinity are put; or

(iii) to the layout, character or condition of the premises, vehicle, vessel, or stall in respect of which the application is made.

Craig Hawkings confirmed that the applicant had not been convicted of any offence. He stated that the options open to the Sub Committee were to allow the renewal application, attaching any conditions they deemed appropriate, or to refuse it. In the event of a refusal, written reasons for the decision would need to be given.

Member questions to the Officer Reporting

Responding to a question from Cllr Cannon, Craig Hawkings confirmed Thames Valley Police were the only statutory consultee and there was no other responsible authority involved. Regarding the letter of objection from residents, Craig Hawkings said it had been signed by seven people.

Cllr Cannon asked Craig Hawkings if there had been any material changes to the character of the area since the licence was last renewed. Craig Hawkings said there had not been, although he was aware of redevelopment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.