There were no apologies for absence.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and went through the process he intended to follow. He explained that once everyone had made their submissions and all questions had been answered, the hearing would close to all parties except for the Panel, the Council’s Legal Advisor and the Committee Services Officer, for the Panel to consider their decision.

Further to a meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 14 December 2020 which had considered an application for the variation to a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the premises known as The Kings Head Sports Bar, 8-9 King Street, Gravesend DA12 2EB. As this meeting of the Panel had been adjourned the Chair asked the Panel to agree the minutes of the Licensing Panel held on 14 December 2020 as a correct record. The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 14 December 2020 were agreed.

The Chair reminded everyone present that the Panel had been convened to only consider that application for a licence variation in relation to the bar and servery area in the outside area of the premises.

The Kent Police Licensing Officer addressed the Panel and explained the Kent Police’s objection to the application. The Kent Police Licensing Officer stated this was a continuation of his submission from the last meeting of the Panel and drew the Panel’s attention to the supplementary agenda which contained a list of incidents recorded on the Police database over the last two years. It was confirmed that all of the incidents had been recorded as taking place at the application premises and not in the town centre or at other town centre premises.

Following the conclusion of the Kent Police Licensing Officer’s submission, the Chair queried whether the incidents listed on page 47 of the supplementary report in relation to Covid-19 had been substantiated or were allegations. The officer confirmed that the incidents were all calls to Kent Police. However, evidence of non-compliance had been found on visits to the venue, for instance the rule of six in a time of table service only, the non-wearing of face masks and group number breaches. The officer noted that some of the allegations on the list had not been confirmed.

In response to another question from the Chair, the Kent Police Licensing Officer also confirmed that no further negotiations with the applicant had taken place since 14 December 2020.

The Kent Police Licensing Officer advised that the 35 reported incidents over two years made the premises a high generator of calls and was in the top tier of the incident risk register.

The Chair opened the floor to questions from Councillors and set out below are the responses received:

·         Page 47 of the agenda contained information of an infringement of a Covid-19 regulation. The Kent Police Licensing Officer confirmed that evidence on non-compliance had been found during Police visits to the premises. For example, a Birthday Party when the rule of six was in force  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.