COUNCILLORS WERE met by a scene of “utter devastation” in the function room of a Dundee pub when they made an inspection visit, the licensing board heard yesterday, writes Brian Allison, local government reporter.

Conditions which confronted board members at the function room in The Shand public house in Dickson Avenue were roundly condemned at a meeting of the board.

Members were considering an application for renewal of the public house’s licence by James Harvey.

The board heard from city council food and health and safety manager Lindsay Matthew that officials had visited the premises in June and found more than 40 items requiring attention.

Subsequent visits found a number of items still outstanding and the function room had not been cleaned up several days after a function had taken place.

Food had been left lying, discarded cigarette ends were in evidence on the floor and in an ashtray and toilets were found to be dirty and with graffiti on the walls.

Board chairman Lord Provost John Letford said the situation in the function room was the most disgraceful he had ever seen on making such a visit.

Councillor Rod Wallace said the function room was a scene of utter devastation. “I have never seen anything like it in my life,” he said.

Food which had been left on the carpet and cigarette ends which should not have been there were also criticised by councillor Christina Roberts.

Solicitor Ken Glass, appearing for the applicant, said the instructions he had received indicated the application was likely to go through unchallenged and he was therefore not in a position to address the criticisms.

He asked that the matter be deferred to a meeting of the adjourned board in a few weeks time and that request was granted.