Resolved - That Councillor C Povall be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda, and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members were asked to consider whether they had any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any items on the agenda, and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.

No such declarations were made.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application that had been received from Kamaleswari Rajenthiram for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of 82-84 Grange Road West, Birkenhead, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises do not currently hold a Premises Licence.  The application for the grant of a Premises Licence was for the following hours:

Supply of Alcohol

Sunday to Saturday  07:00 to 00:00

Hours Open to the Public

Sunday to Saturday  07:00 to 00:00

The applicant was required to submit an operating schedule setting out how they would conduct/manage their business in accordance with the four licensing objectives.  A copy of the full application was available.  Members were advised that the proposals set out in the operating schedule may become conditions of the licence should the licence be granted.

In respect of this application, a representation had been received from a local resident.  The representation related to anti-social behaviour, public nuisance and underage drinking which was currently a problem within the vicinity of the premises.  A copy of the representation was available.

Representations had also been received from Ward Councillors, Jean Stapleton and George Davies.  The representation supported the concerns expressed by the local resident.  Copies of the representations were available.

Following representations made by Merseyside Police a number of conditions as set out in the report had been agreed to by the applicant.  No other representations had been received from any of the Responsible Authorities.

The applicant, Mrs Rajenthiram attended the meeting with her son Rajendiran Vinothan and Ms Sherratt who outlined the application.

Councillor George Davies was in attendance together with Mr T Dewhurst, local resident.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received.  It was confirmed that Councillor Stapleton had given permission for Councillor Davies to speak on her behalf.  Mr Dewhurst requested that he be permitted to refer to some additional documentation which was agreed to by Ms Sherratt and this was therefore submitted to Members.

Ms Sherratt informed Members that Rajendiran Vinothan would be running the premises and that it would be a family-run business.  She reported that Mrs Rajenthiram was temporarily the Designated Premises Supervisor until Rajendiran Vinothan took over.  The purpose of the application was that they felt the premises would not be viable without a Premises Licence.  She reported that the family owned a licensed premises in Liverpool and therefore were experienced in selling alcohol.  She informed Members that following liaisons with Merseyside Police a number of conditions to be attached to the Premises Licence had been agreed including a ‘Challenge 21’ policy and the installation of CCTV.  She outlined how the premises would be operated and referred to the case of Thwaites.  She reminded all parties that if any problems should occur in the future the Licence may be brought into review at any time and asked that the Premises Licence be granted.

Ms Sherratt and Rajendiran Vinothan responded to questions from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application that had been received from Trading Standards for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of Steadmans Convenience Store, 224-226 Reeds Lane, Moreton, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises currently have a Premises Licence which allows the licensable activities as set out in the report.

A copy of the Premises Licence setting out the 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 Conditions of the Licence.
• Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the Licence.
• Remove the Designated Premises Supervisor.
• Suspend the Licence for a period 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.

The application had been submitted by Trading Standards who advised that the grounds for review were in relation to the protection of children from harm following the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years during test purchase operations at the premises on 15 May 2007, 14 November 2007 and 3 June 2010.

Mr A Bushell, Senior Assistant Trading Standards Officer attended the meeting.

Mr and Mrs McKenzie, the Premises Licence Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor respectively were also in attendance.

The Licensing Officer reported that all documentation had been sent and received and that Mr Bushell had requested to submit a photograph of the volunteer.  This was agreed to by Mr and Mrs McKenzie and therefore the photograph was submitted to Members.

Mr Bushell referred to the representations he had made in which he had recorded previous test purchasing visits resulting in the sale of alcohol to a child under the age of 18.  He referred to the operation conducted on 3 June 2010 during which a visit had been made to the premises and the underage volunteer had purchased a bottle of rose Lambrini wine.  The seller was subsequently interviewed by Mr Bushell during which certain salient points arose including the fact that she was not aware who the Designated Premises Supervisor was and was not sure of the legal age for persons buying alcohol.  She was also uncertain what age policy the premises operated.  Mr Bushell subsequently interviewed Mrs McKenzie and reported that she had a lot of experience within the licensing trade.  He also reported that the premises currently operate a ‘Think 21 Policy’ and a till prompt was in operation.  He reported that although training records were kept at the premises the seller had been trained only six weeks prior to making the sale.  Mr Bushell proposed that certain conditions be attached to the Premises Licence which were outlined within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

This application was withdrawn prior to the hearing.