The Director of Regeneration reported upon an application that had been received from Merseyside Police for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of the Farmers Arms, 43 New Chester Road, New Ferry, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises currently hold a Premises Licence which allowed the following licensable activities:

Supply of Alcohol

Monday to Saturday  11:00 to 00:00

Sunday  12:00 to 23:30

Hours Open to the Public

Monday to Saturday  11:00 to 00:30

Sunday  12:00 to 00:00

Regulated Entertainment (Live Music and Recorded Music)

Monday to Saturday  11:00 to 00:00

Sunday  12:00 to 23:30

Entertainment Facilities (Entertainment Facilities of a Similar Description)

Monday to Saturday  11:00 to 00:00

Sunday  12:00 to 23:30

A copy of the Premises Licence setting out the above hours and conditions attached to the licence was available.

The Director advised that the Sub-Committee may, having regard to the application for review and any relevant representations, take such of the following steps as it considered necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives:

• Modify the Licence conditions.
• Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the Licence.
• Remove the Designated Premises Supervisor.
• Suspend the Licence for a period of not exceeding three months.
• Revoke the Licence.

The licensing authority may decide that no action would be necessary if it found that the review did not require it to take any steps necessary to promote the licensing objectives.

Sergeant Peers attended the meeting together with Rita Jones, Police Licensing and advised that the grounds for review were in relation to the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance following a number of incidents of disorder occurring at the premises over the past 12 months.

Mr Ashcroft, Solicitor representing the Farmers Arms attended the meeting together with Mr Wilson-Jones, Area Manager, Mr Lewis, Designated Premises Supervisor and Mr Whitby, Manager.

The Licensing Officer confirmed that all notices had been sent and received and no additional documentation had been submitted.

Sergeant Peers requested that he submit two statements which he had received that morning.  Mr Ashcroft had no objections to these being submitted, therefore they were taken into consideration at the hearing.

Sergeant Peers reported that the premises were not being properly managed which had resulted in incidents of crime and disorder and public nuisance.  He reported upon a number of incidents that had occurred at the premises since July 2008 which included a major Police incident involving a number of officers on 18 December 2008.  He also expressed his concern regarding a letter he had received stating that the Designated Premises Supervisor had left and who had a key role within the Licensing Act.

Sergeant Peers concluded that the incidents that had occurred at the premises over the last 12 months had undermined the licensing objective of crime and disorder.  He felt that the premises required effective management and that out of hours drinking had been a common and regular feature.  Sergeant Peers suggested that there were grounds for revocation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5