An apology of absence was received from Cllr Wallace. Cllr Leslie Pearton substituted.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Licensing Panel was asked to determine an application for a review of the Premises Licence granted under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the premises known as Silk Bar, 1-2 Parrock Street, Gravesend, Kent DA12 1EW.

The Senior Licensing Officer addressed the Panel advising that on 3 September 2019 the council received an application from Kent Police for an expedited review of the premises licence in respect of Silk Bar, 1-2 Parrock Street, Gravesend, Kent DA12 1EW as they considered it necessary to take interim steps pending determination of the review of the premises licence.

The decision, at the expedited review hearing, made by the Licensing Panel, was to suspend the premises licence in the interim of the full review hearing being held. On 16 September 2019 further information was received from Kent Police to support their application for a review of the premises licence. The evidence was attached at Appendix 5.

The two Kent Police Licensing Officers showed the Panel CCTV evidence from the night of Thursday, 29 August leading into the early hours of Friday, 30 August 2019. The video evidence identified at least seven breaches of the conditions on their Premises Licence. A second piece of CCTV evidence showing violence in the premises on Saturday, 20 April 2019 leading into the early hours of Sunday, 21 April 2019 was also presented to Members.

The Police Licensing Officer recognized and agreed with the proposed conditions that were submitted by the Silk Bars legal team, listed in the supplementary pack pages 4-7; they also acknowledged the fact that Munise Ibrahim had been removed as the Premises Licence Holder and the Designated Premise Supervisor which they felt was a positive action.

However they objected to the proposed opening hours set out below:

·         Fridays and Saturdays – Licensable Activities and Opening Hours to cease at 03:00am

The Police Licensing Officer laid out the reasons as to why Kent Police wanted Silk Bars opening hours to be reduced to the following:

·         Fridays and Saturdays – Licensable Activities and Opening Hours to cease at 01:00am

The Police Licensing Officer further addressed the Panel arguing the reasons as to why the Premises Licence should be amended and Munise Ibrahim should have no direct or indirect association with the work of the Silk Bar. The Panels attention was also drawn to appendix two of the report which showed evidence that at the previous Silk Bar location in Camden, an expedited review had to be called due to a similar situation under the management of Munise Ibrahim. The Police Licensing Officer claimed that the most recent bout of violence at the bar on 30 August 2019 identified a pattern. However, the Police Licensing Officer agreed that the Silk Bar did not generate high crime, only instances of high crime, therefore the Licence was not being sought to be revoked, only better management installed and earlier closing hours adhered to. 

Members and the Barrister had their questions answered by the Police Licensing Officer.

The Environmental  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.