A club chaired by Conservative councillor Nick Housden could be banned from selling alcohol for three months amid police concerns over “a distinct disregard for the licence and importance of legal compliance”.

A review of the premises certificate for The Carlton Club in London Road, Stroud has been brought forward at the request of Gloucestershire Constabulary.

The police say there have been eight incidents at the club since Councillor Nick Housden, who represents Stonehouse at Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire County Council, became the chairman of the former Conservative club in March 2023.

They say there are concerns the club is not being run responsibly and is not being conducted in good faith.

The premises certificate only allows alcohol to be sold to members and their guests but police argue several of its conditions have been and continue to be breached.

They have sent numerous correspondence to the chairman raising concerns and breaches to his attention.

Two joint agency meetings were held between the chairman, a police officer and licensing officers.

Cllr Housden has also been sent two written warnings including a final warning, yet police say the status quo has not changed.

“Numerous deadline dates were given to the chairman to provide evidence of compliance, each one passed, showing a clear defiance and lack of co-operation and has failed to rectify the breaches raised, thus negatively impacting on the licensing objectives,” the report, due before the licensing committee at Ebley Mill next week, reads.

“Police have lost confidence in the chairman, who appears to have a distinct disregard for the licence and importance of legal compliance.”

The report says officers were notified in May 2023 that there were changes to the club committee membership including a new club chairman, Nicholas Housden.

Over the next couple of months, the council received some concerns from the public that the club may not be being run as a bona fide club.

The licensing officer clarified to Cllr Housden that a club premises certificate permits supply of alcohol to members and their guests only, according to the report.

They also clarified that the club cannot serve alcohol or provide any other licensable activities to the general public.

Membership must be a proper process in accordance with the club’s rule book and guests should be genuine guests of members or be associated guests such as visiting teams, they said.

Licensing officers visited the club with the police and met with the chairman in July 2023.

The licensing officers further explained the rules around club premises certificates and went through the conditions on the club premises certificate.

The police licensing officer discussed some incidents that had occurred at the club.

And there was a further joint visit in November 2023 where the police raised concern about information that had not been provided by the club as requested.

During this visit the licensing officer advised the chairman, Cllr Housden, that signage outside the club, which states that members and non-members are welcome, was misleading. The chairman disputed this.

The licensing officer also noted that the club rules for the Carlton Club had been updated and no longer met the conditions for a club premises certificate laid out in the Licensing Act 2003.

In particular, they did not include that there must be a two-day period between a new member applying for membership and being entitled to privileges of the club.

There was also no information in the club rules about how they manage guests.

The club chairman has promised to address this, the council says it is still waiting for the updated rules.

Gloucestershire Constabulary requested a review of the club premises certificate in January on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder, public safety and protection of children from harm.

They said Cllr Housden, the current chairman, took over the premises in 2023 and eight incidents have been reported since.

The police claim there have been continued breaches of the licence discovered and the chairman shows an apparent lack of regard to the licence, best practice and due diligence.

The legal representative for the club has advised the council they will be providing a bundle of documents for the panel in advance of the hearing on March 22.

The club will be asking the panel not to suspend the certificate and instead will be asking the committee to substitute a new schedule of conditions in place of those currently on the certificate, the report reads.

Gloucestershire County Council’s public health and communities team support the application for a review.

They feel that safeguards for children at the club need to be significantly strengthened.

An incident of criminal damage involving underage children able to gain entry to an insecure club premise was reported.

And the chairman has admitted to leaving the doors wide open for anyone to be able to just walk in and fails to see the importance of securing the premise, the report reads.

Guests, including underage children are currently not recorded, according to the report. The police seek a suspension of the licence, and amendment of conditions.

Residents have also raised concerns over littering in the outdoor areas at the front and side of the club including cigarette butts and glass, anti-social behaviour and fighting outside the club and loud music late at night from events in the club.

There have also been reports of screaming, swearing and shouting late at night.

Club signage advertising that the club is open to members and non-members and people congregating in the smoking area causing disturbance, has also been reported to the authorities.

The club’s current premises certificate allows the sale of alcohol to club members and their guests from 10.30am to 11pm Monday to Wednesday, from 10.30am to 1am Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from and from 11am to 11pm on Sundays.

It also allows live and recorded music to be played indoors from 7pm to 11pm Monday to Wednesday and on Sundays. And from 7pm to 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7pm to 1am.

One of the options that the licensing panel has is to suspend the club premises certificate for up to three months.

This would mean that supply of alcohol would have to stop while the suspension is in force.

Cllr Housden has been approached for comment.