The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to consider a number of agenda items, including a variation to a premises licence. Councillor George Farquhar, Councillor Mark Howell and Councillor Chris Matthews were scheduled to be in attendance. The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of a chair.

Cameo, Fir Vale Road

The main item for discussion was an application from Neos 99 Limited to vary the premises licence for Cameo, a nightclub located at 7 Fir Vale Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2JA.

The proposed changes included:

• Reducing the size of the premises by removing the back half.
• Internal refurbishment.
• Relocating the entrance to Glen Fern Road, BH1 2LZ. If this change was approved, the address would be updated to Cameo, Glen Fern Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2LZ.
• Adding conditions to the premises licence to further promote the licensing objectives¹.

The additional conditions proposed for the premises licence were:

• No drinks would be permitted in the smoking area. The designated premises supervisor (DPS) or general manager would be required to conduct a written risk assessment to determine the number of smokers allowed at any one time, particularly during noise-sensitive periods, and maintain that number. The risk assessment would be made available to responsible authorities upon request.
• The designated queuing area would be enclosed within appropriate barriers to ensure the footway is kept clear.
• All staff engaged outside the entrance to the premises, or supervising or controlling queues, would wear high-visibility yellow jackets or vests.
• The premises would maintain membership of the Townwatch scheme (or any successor scheme). A senior member of staff would attend all Townwatch meetings unless an emergency prevents such attendance, and the premises would support Townwatch initiatives.
• A direct telephone number for the manager at the premises would be publicly available at all times the premises is open.
• This telephone number would be made available to residents and businesses in the vicinity.
• The premises would maintain a written dispersal policy.
• A copy of the policy would be made available to the licensing authority and authorised officers of the responsible authorities on request.
• The dispersal policy would include (but not be limited to) the following:
  • During the last thirty minutes of trading, volume levels would be reduced, the music tempo slowed, and lighting levels raised to encourage the gradual dispersal of patrons.
  • DJ announcements would be used to encourage a gradual dispersal and to remind customers to be considerate to neighbours.
  • Notices would be displayed in prominent positions at the exit of the premises requesting customers to leave quietly.
  • During the closure of the premises, the Premises Licence Holder would provide Security Industry Authority (SIA)[^3] registered security staff, wearing high-visibility arm-bands, jackets, or vests, externally to assist with managing customers leaving the vicinity of the premises. Any customers congregating or loitering outside after the premises has closed would be encouraged to depart quickly and quietly.
  • Security staff would supervise customers leaving the premises for at least an additional 15 minutes after the conclusion of licensable activities or until persons are dispersed from the immediate area.
  • Door supervisors would receive training to familiarise them with the dispersal procedure.
  • Training records regarding the dispersal procedure would be maintained, signed, and dated by the member of staff receiving the training. Records of training would be kept on the premises for 12 months and made available immediately to police or representatives of the licensing authority upon request.

According to the report pack, all other hours, activities, and conditions were to remain unchanged by this application.

The report pack noted that the licensing authority had received five representations from other persons, and that these representations stated that granting the application would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance licensing objectives.

The report pack stated that Planning had highlighted a condition from their most recent application for proposed change of use of the existing nightclub.

1. Prior to the occupation of any of the student bedrooms the works on the ground floor Class E commercial units shall be substantially completed and the existing nightclub use within the application site shall have ceased operation. The night club use within the application site shall not thereafter be reinstated.

The planning officer commented that It depends on when they occupy the proposed student accommodation. At the moment, they are probably a long way from occupation. I expect the night club will be a temporary use. As such planning have no objection as they do not know when this permission will be implemented.

The Sub-Committee were asked to decide whether to grant the application to vary the premises licence as made, refuse the application, or grant the variation subject to additional conditions.

Protocol for Public Speaking at Licensing Hearings

The Sub-Committee were scheduled to note the protocol for public speaking at licensing sub-committee hearings. The protocol sets out the procedure and order of speaking for hearings, and states that:

Only persons (or their representatives) who have made an application, are subject to an application or have submitted a written representation or objection to the Licensing Authority under the relevant Act are permitted to speak at the hearing.