Resolved -

(1)  That Councillor W J Davies be appointed Chair to consider the item regarding News and Booze together with Councillors M Hornby and S Niblock.

(2)  That Councillor J Salter be appointed Chair to consider the item regarding Port Sunlight Garden Centre together with Councillors M Hornby and A Leech.

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 Sub-Committee were 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.

No such declarations were made.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application that had been received from Mr Sukhdeep Thiara for a Premises Licence in respect of News and Booze, 264-266 Conway Street, Birkenhead, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The hours requested were outlined within the report and it was further reported that the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee had revoked the Premises Licence following a review made by Merseyside Police on 20 October 2011.

The applicant had submitted an operating schedule setting out how the business would be conducted/managed 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.  Further to a meeting with Merseyside Police the applicant had agreed to a number of conditions being imposed on the Premises Licence should the Licence be granted.

Representations had been received from a local resident and from Stonger Communities Initiative Assembly.  The representations related to anti-social behaviour caused by youths within the vicinity of the premises.

A representation had also been received from Birkenhead and Tranmere Ward Councillors which supported the concerns of local residents.  Copies of all the representations were available.

Councillor Niblock declared that he was related to a member of the public who was in attendance.  Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee confirmed that the member of the public had not made any representations and therefore the matter could proceed.

The applicant attended the meeting.  Councillors Kenny and Stapleton, Ward Councillors, were also in attendance together with Mrs S Hughes, local resident.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received.

The applicant addressed the Sub-Committee and explained that he had relocated to the area from London in order to start a business venture.  He understood the concerns of local residents but expressed a wish to work with the community to ensure anti social behaviour would not occur.  He also advised that he would work with the responsible authorities.  He informed Members that he would not permit customers to drink outside the premises and that CCTV would be installed.  He offered to reduce the hours applied for and estimated that the percentage of alcohol sales would be 65%.  The applicant offered to reduce the strength of cans of cider and lager from 9% ABV to 8% ABV and advised that he would become a member of Shopwatch and Pubwatch.  He reported that he had previous experience at a premises in London and requested that the application be granted.

The applicant responded to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee, Councillors Kenny and Stapleton and Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee.

Councillor Stapleton reported upon the problems that had occurred in 2011 relating to anti social behaviour, including drunken teenagers, drugs and violence which occurred on a daily basis when the premises previously held a Premises Licence.  She  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application that had been received from M & S Wilkinson Limited for a Premises Licence in respect of Port Sunlight Garden Centre, The Causeway, Port Sunlight, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The hours requested were outlined within the report.  The applicant had submitted an operating schedule setting out how the business would be conducted/managed 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.

Representations had been received from four local residents.  The representations related to concerns that should the application be granted, this would result in an increase in anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance which was currently considered to be a problem within the vicinity of the premises.  Copies of all the representations were available.

Mrs H Wall, Manager and Mr M Scott, Garden Centre Manager attended the meeting.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that one of the representations that had been made had subsequently been withdrawn.

Mr Scott addressed the Sub-Committee and advised Members that there was no intention for the premises to be open daily until 11 pm.  He explained that the application had been made in order that the premises could occasionally hold events such as late night shopping round Christmas time, flower arranging events and charity funding events.  He informed Members that the intention was to sell premium priced alcohol in the café and alcohol for consumption of the premises in gift packs.  He reported that the range of alcohol on offer would be limited and that they were not seeking to change the use of the premises and that the premises would operate as it does currently for most of the year and asked that the application be granted.

Mr Scott responded to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee and Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee.

In determining the application, the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee had regard to the Licensing Objectives, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the Statutory Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Members had regard to the representations made and gave due consideration to the way in which the business would operate with a Premises Licence and determined that the licensing objectives would not be undermined should the application be granted.

Resolved -

(1)  That in accordance with Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the application.

(2)  That the application in respect of Port Sunlight Garden Centre, Port Sunlight, be granted.