Resolved – That Councillor H Smith be appointed Chair for this meeting.

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 Chambers (Wirral) Limited for a Premises Licence in respect of Chambers Bar and Grill, 25 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, 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.

A representation had been received from Merseyside Police.  The representation related to the prevention of crime and disorder.  A copy of the representation was available.  A response to the representation had been submitted by the legal representative of the applicant and was also available.

Mrs J Lynch, Company Director of Chambers (Wirral) Limited, attended the meeting together with her legal representative Mr N Smith.  Mr McNulty, a friend of the applicant was also in attendance.

Sergeant S Barrigan and Constable P Coley attended the meeting on behalf of Merseyside Police (Licensing Division).

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that Sergeant Barrigan had agreed to the applicant submitting photographic evidence in support of the application.

Mr Smith addressed the Sub-Committee and informed Members that Mrs Lynch was the sole director of Chambers (Wirral) Limited.  He outlined Mrs Lynch’s background and advised Members that she had worked in a number of licensed premises in Liverpool over the last 30 years, however she now wished to pursue her own career within the licensing industry.  Mr Smith informed Members that the premises had been renovated by Mrs Lynch and her two sons and that the emphasis would be food sales with seating for approximately 60 people.  Mr Smith referred to various financial records to demonstrate how the financing of the premises had been obtained and explained that reclaimed materials had been used in the refurbishment namely bricks which had been given to Mrs Lynch free of charge, she had also sourced materials from car boot sales and second hand shops.  He reported that the applicant intended to run the premises in a professional manner and would have an EPOS till system installed.  He confirmed that Mrs Lynch had recently obtained a Personal Licence and intended to become the Designated Premises Supervisor at the premises.  Mr Smith advised that Mrs Lynch’s son, Peter Lynch, was not the applicant and that he had never been charged or convicted of a relevant offence.  Mr Smith suggested that there was no credible relevant evidence to indicate that granting the application would undermine the licensing objectives and therefore submitted that the application be granted.

Mrs Lynch and her representative responded to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee, Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee and Sergeant Barrigan.

Sergeant Barrigan reported that Merseyside Police had made a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.