(a)

considered the report from the Director for Community Services;

(b)

heard representations from Environmental Health and Devon and Cornwall Police as detailed below under the relevant licensing objectives;

(c)

heard from the applicant that:

(i)

there were 10-15 public houses within a ten minute walk from the premises;

(ii)

they only wanted the opportunity to sell alcohol to members who were waiting for a massage and there would be no alcohol allowed in the massage rooms;

(iii)

in the last 11 years they had only had to call the police once because of two drunk and abusive men who the applicant refused to allow into the premises;

(iv)

they do not see the difference between them selling alcohol and any other venue selling alcohol;

(v)

they offered an alternative naturist massage and they had a strict age verification policy. Entry to the premises was through a secure door entry system;

(vi)

local residents had not objected to the application and in the time they had been running the business there had not been any problems with people worried about their children, crime and disorder as they keep their clients under control and didn’t have any disturbances;

(vii)

clients normally came in one to four at a time. They did not allow large groups to come in at the same time which stopped crime and disorder. If it was noisy outside then they waited until it was quiet before they let their client out;

(viii)

they generally used AA taxis to collect their clients;

(ix)

they had accepted all of the conditions put forward by the Police and Environmental Health;

(x)

they would like to adjust the sale of alcohol times on a Sunday to 6pm until midnight and had removed the application for regulated entertainment;

(xi)

they employed a SIA doorman and were looking to join a local pubwatch scheme;

(d)

considered representations under the licensing objectives as follows:

(1)

Prevention of Public Nuisance –

Environmental Health had initially raised concerns for public nuisance but the applicant had amended her operating schedule and removed the application for regulated entertainment and therefore Environmental Health had no representation under this objective.

(2)

Prevention of Crime and Disorder –

the police raised concerns that that the massage of patrons took place in rooms contained in the area to be licensed. There was no CCTV covering the rooms or any panic buttons or means to alert staff or security. The massage being advertised included ‘alternative massage’. Massage was physical touching and alcohol being served at the premises may result in an increase in crime and disorder if following consumption a massage was requested when the effects of consumption were still taking place;

this was considered to be relevant. The committee considered that the conditions agreed and put forward by Environmental Health (and supported by the police) would address these concerns subject to the amendments detailed below.

(3)

Public Safety –

Environmental Health raised concerns that if a person was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.