Now contains additional information submitted by LOOH and Vision’s agent.

The Hearing Panel considered a report from the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing concerning the above application.  The written papers and oral representations of the parties who attended were also considered, as well as the relevant legislation.

In line with the established procedure, the Hearing Panel heard from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), who informed the panel that the premises had been subject to a previous Summary Review in April 2023 that related to the use of a knife on the premises. A male victim was slashed across their face following a verbal dispute, with the victim requiring hospital treatment. A potential offender had been identified and arrested. At the Interim Steps hearing during that review, GMP had agreed a new condition with the premises relating to the use of a metal detecting wand to search customers on entry and re-entry. GMP had visited on two separate occasions and saw the condition was being met. For that reason, GMP agreed at the full Summary Review that the condition was appropriate and proportionate for the premises to uphold the Licensing Objectives. For the previous incident, the issue of a lack of Bodycam use by door staff was raised, but GMP had accepted the premises explanation that the incident was over too quickly for Bodycam’s to be utilised. Following this incident, GMP had been contacted on 23 April 2023 due to fighting at the premises but no offenders had been found.

GMP then read their report verbatim from the agenda issued relating to this Summary Review, whilst raising that this recent incident came after a previous violent incident only 10 weeks prior. GMP requested that the public were excluded whilst they showed the panel CCTV relating to the night in question. The investigation was ongoing and GMP felt that having the CCTV shown in public may prejudice that. The panel deliberated in private and decided to exclude the public during the viewing of the CCTV and subsequent questions to protect the ongoing police investigation. The CCTV was then shown in private and questions were asked of GMP by both the premises agent and the panel.

LOOH then addressed the Hearing Panel, reading their report verbatim from the agenda issued. They noted that there were a number of Licence breaches on the night in question and that LOOH supported GMP’s position. Under questioning by Vision’s agent, LOOH explained that the smoking area was raised as an area of concern in meetings with the Premises since the first Summary Review. LOOH felt that the barriers were too low and would allow people to pass items in and out of the area. LOOH had requested for the barriers to be made higher but stated that they expected those returning from the smoking area would also be re-wanded on entry. It was noted that the DPS had given assurances that the barriers in the smoking area would be raised, but LOOH noted that from the CCTV it was clear this had not happened. LOOH  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.