Resolved - That Councillor W J Davies be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members of the Committee are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests, in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Members of the Committee were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with the application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Councillor P Williams declared a non pecuniary interest by virtue of being acquainted with Mr D Horton (who was objecting to the application made by Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd) as a consequence of being a previous member of Birkenhead Choral Society.

No objections to this were raised by the applicant company.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application that had been received from Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Limited for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Sainsbury’s, Greasby Road, Greasby, 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:

Sale by Retail of Alcohol

Sunday to Saturday  07:00 to 23:00

Hours Open to the Public

Sunday to Saturday  24 Hours

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, 32 representations had been received from local residents which related to concerns that if the application were to be granted anti-social behaviour and public nuisance would increase within the vicinity of the premises due to the availability of alcohol and the premises being open 24 hours a day.

Representations had also been received from Ward Councillors Tony Cox and Wendy Clements who had also submitted a petition containing 133 signatories by local residents and which supported the individual representations.

A representation had also been received from Mr Chris Blakeley on behalf of Esther McVey, MP who had been contacted by her constituents regarding concerns that the levels of anti-social behaviour would increase (which they considered were currently a problem in the area) should the application be granted.  Copies of all representations were available.

No representations had been received from any of the Responsible Authorities.

Mr Boothroyd, Area Manager, attended the meeting together with his Solicitor Mr Botkai, to outline the application.

Councillor M Hornby made representations on behalf of the ward councillors and also assisted Mr Horton, a local resident who objected to the application.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received.  The Licensing Manager further confirmed that a response had been received from Mr Blakeley on behalf of Esther McVey MP indicating that he was unable to attend and also informed Members that the application had been amended for the sale by retail of alcohol to commence at 8 am further to the representations received.

Mr Botkai addressed the Sub-Committee and provided some background to the application.  He reported that Sainsbury’s were applying for a Premises Licence to sell alcohol and did not intend to open 24 hours a day.  He advised that he wished to amend the application for the supply of alcohol to commence at 8 am instead of 7 am and referred to the hours that the premises had been granted planning permission for.  He addressed the concerns raised by local residents and referred to the lack of evidence to support many of the objections and the fact that no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.