Licensing meeting success

Organised by the Safer Rother Partnership, the meeting pulled together all responsible agencies to plan better ways of communicating action that had been undertaken by individual agencies. Protocols will be put in place to ensure that information on those premises that are causing problems or breaching regulations will be put before the Council's Licensing Panel for a review of the premises licence. In some cases this could result in the suspension or revocation of the licence. The Licensing Panel could also impose additional conditions or restrictions on those premises that were breaking the rules or causing a nuisance and disturbance to residents.

Rother District Commander, Chief Inspector Steve Brookman identified key officers within the Police who were responsible for specific areas of the District. Officers from Environmental Health and Trading Standards will meet on a regular basis with those police officers to discuss on-going problems and target premises where local people have expressed concerns.

Councillor Christopher Starnes, Chairman of the Council's Licensing and General Purposes Committee, welcomed the initiative and said, "Whilst the Council acknowledges the wish of the licensees of pubs and clubs to take advantage of the relaxed licensing laws, the Council will work in partnership with the other agencies involved to ensure that they comply fully with the conditions of their licence. The Council would also welcome any information from the public if they are aware that any infringements are taking place or if they are subjected to unreasonable levels of disturbance."

Anyone concerned about any premises that is either breaching its conditions of licence or is causing unreasonable levels of disturbance are asked to contact the Council's Environmental Health Service on 01424 787550 or e-mail [email protected].

The licensing conditions of individual premises can be viewed on the Council's web-site: www.rother.gov.uk/licensing