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Cllr Fred Carver |
‘You were hopelessly out of your depth’ charge in bar row
THE youngest councillor at the Town Hall has faced a barrage of criticism and accusations that he is not mature enough for the job after handing a licence to a bar against police advice.
Liberal Democrat Fred Carver, 23, was told he was too inexperienced and immature to be chairing important licensing meetings after his handling of an application by the Snugg Bar in Marchmont Street, King’s Cross.
Camden police had asked the council not to grant a licence after recording disturbances last summer, finding doormen were not qualified and that the bar had operated previously without a valid licence.
Sergeant Bob Dear added a man at the venue had been investigated into alleged supply of heroin, although further details of the case cannot been discussed because of an impending court case.
“Police believe that this application should be thrown out in its entirety,” he said.
Due to councillor shortages, Cllr Carver was in the hot-seat on Thursday when a two-member panel discussed the bar’s application.
Snugg’s representatives told the meeting that they are not connected to any wrong-doing and the police investigation is not linked to them.
While Labour councillor Nasim Ali said Snugg’s bid should be refused, he was overruled by Cllr Carver who, as chairman, had the casting vote. It means the bar can stay open until 11pm each night.
Campaigners have since sent him emails arguing that he lacks the maturity to tackle the big decisions.
Kenneth Clements, who lives in Marchmont Street, wrote: “It was clear from the outset that you were hopelessly out of your depth and I put this down to your inexperience and apparent youth.”
Labour ward councillor Jonathan Simpson added: “It beggars belief that one single councillor decided to dig his head in the sand and refused to listen to residents.”
Cllr Carver said: “You need to be trained and over 18 to stand as councillor – I was 21. I am absolutely convinced I made the right decision. I thought, with the safeguards I asked to be put in place the licence, were it well enforced, would ensure the licensing objectives weren’t violated. The issue over whether the venue sticks to its licence is not for the panel, it’s for the enforcement department.”
Snugg Bar licensee Nunzia Delle-Donne declined to comment yesterday (Wednesday) but said in the bar’s application that she planned to prevent crime by employing door staff on Friday and Saturday night, installing CCTV and putting up notices reminding patrons that “nuisance behaviour will not be tolerated by any member of staff, on or off the premises”. |
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