Resolved -

That, pursuant to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), members of the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely that there would be disclosures of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 5 specified in Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.

To consider an application for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of Gun Street Garden, 5 Gun Street, Reading, RG1 2JR.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on an application by Thames Valley Police, a named responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003, to review the Premises Licence in respect of Gun Street Garden, 5 Gun Street, Reading, RG1 2JR.

The report explained that the application for review had been submitted by Thames Valley Police in order to address the failure of the premises licence holder to promote the four licensing objectives (the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm) via their insufficient measures to ensure due diligence or compliance with their licence conditions.

A copy of the review application form submitted by Thames Valley Police was attached to the report at Appendix TS-1. Appendix TS-1 contained 7 appendices marked TVP-1 to TVP-7.

The application to review the premises licence had been triggered following an incident that took place at Gun Street Garden on 2 December 2023 whereby it was alleged that a customer had been assaulted and injured by a member of the premises’ security staff. The review application form also explained that Gun Street Garden had suffered a high number of disorders and incidents involving violence over the years and that Thames Valley Police and the Council had made a number of interventions via performance meetings with the premises in order to reduce that type of incident, and to attempt to prevent the premises from undermining the licensing objectives. The review application stated that the scale of incidents occurring at the premises, the actions of the premises licence holder, designated premises supervisor (DPS), staff and security team at this premises was very concerning and that steps needed to be taken to safeguard the late-night economy and the local community visiting the premises and area.

The review application stated that the incident that took place on 2 December 2023 and that had triggered the review was both predictable and preventable and that had the premises licence holder, management team staff and security team adhered to police warnings and previous interventions the incident could have been averted. The review application form explained that Thames Valley Police sought the immediate revocation of the premises licence as the only proportionate and necessary step available to prevent the undermining of the four licensing objectives.

During the 28-day consultation period for the application, representations had been received from the responsible authorities of Reading Borough Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing teams. Copies of the representations were attached to the report at Appendix TS-2 and Appendix TS-3 respectively.

Appendix TS-2 contained four annexes, which included four confidential video clips which had been circulated to the Sub-Committee by email to view prior to the meeting. Appendix TS-3 included a copy of the current Premises Licence marked as Appendix RS-1.

The report stated that in determining the application for the review of a premises licence the Licensing Authority had a duty to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as follows:

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