A LEADING Tory councillor has said he stands by his warning that pubs which broke lockdown rules would be shut – but admitted he didn’t know why a Conservative Club was still operating.

Cllr Nicolas Barlow, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Dudley Council, speaking at this week’s full council said he would be inappropriate to comment on the case until he had all the facts. 

Earlier this month a review by Dudley Council of Sedgley Conservative Club’s licence was cancelled after police accepted a condition CCTV would be installed to monitor the premises.

Cllr Shaukat Ali, quizzing him on the case, reminded him of his March warning that pubs faced losing their licence to sell alcohol if they breached the rules. 

Cllr Ali  went on to say: “In May, Sedgley Conservative Club was found to be allegedly in breach of coronavirus restrictions when the police found three people on the premises.

“The matter was referred to the licence committee and surprisingly the complaint was withdrawn and the committee meeting was cancelled.

“That does not send a very good message to the public.”

Asking Cllr Barlow if he thought it was the police’s job to impose conditions and also to ensure the club complied, he went on to ask if the council’s licensing committee should consider if the measures were suitable.

In response Cllr Barlow said: “Yes I still stand by my words. In regards to the establishment you have mentioned I will have to get the full facts of the decision that was made to get a clear understanding of what happened. So it would be inappropriate for me to comment.”

He added licensing and environmental officers would supply Cllr Ali with full details of the case.