A leading Perth councillor withdrew from a licensing board meeting after having a cup of coffee with a senior police officer.
Councillor Jack Coburn decided to remove himself from the meeting, which was about to discuss licensing matters relating to Perth pub/nightclub Brennans, in St John Street.
It was discovered that Councillor Coburn had drunk coffee with a female chief inspector in a separate council room prior to the hearing, though it is understood that there was no discussion of matters due to come before the licensing board for deliberation.
Agent Janet Hood, acting for Brennans, raised the matter of the meeting between the pair but was satisfied when Councillor Coburn withdrew himself from the meeting.
Colin Elliot, Perth and Kinross Council’s solicitor, told the board: “The chief inspector told me there had been no discussion of the matters before the board.
“Councillor Coburn also said present matters were not discussed. He was the only board member to have coffee with the chief inspector and the discussion was on other matters.”
Mr Coburn has been quoted as saying: “I did have coffee with the chief inspector. There were no discussions at all regarding the board.”
He continued: “I had invited the chief inspector for coffee and was discussing that I was a city centre councillor that was all.”
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council told The Courier that Mr Coburn had withdrawn from the licensing board hearing on Brennans due to the incident.
He said: “Councillor Coburn withdrew himself so there was no suggestion of impropriety. He did have coffee with the police officer but he didn’t think it would have implications.”
At the same meeting, Brennans requested the licensing board to agree to several licensing changes.
As a result, it was decided that door stewards would not operate on Thursday evenings, as they are generally quiet, but private functions could still be held that night.
The board also agreed that there would be no nightclub on Friday evenings at Brennans as requested, but the Saturday nightclub would remain.