Resolved – That Councillor J Salter 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.

This application had been withdrawn prior to the hearing.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application that had been received from Vinothin Shanmugalingam Kugathas for a Premises Licence in respect of the Daily Post, 84 Bebington Road, New Ferry, 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 a local resident.  The representation related to concerns that alcohol related anti-social behaviour may increase should the application be granted.

A representation had also been received from Merseyside Police.  The representation related to concerns that the proposed Licence Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor would not act in accordance with the Licensing Objectives should the application be granted.  Copies of the representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting together with her representative and the proposed Designated Premises Supervisor.

Sergeant S Barrigan and Constable R Jones, Merseyside Police, were also in attendance.

Councillor Niblock, Ward Councillor attended the meeting on behalf of the local residents who had made written representations.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and informed Members that the local resident who had made a written representation had provided written authorisation for Councillor Niblock to speak on his behalf.

The applicant’s representative advised Members that the premises was a small retail store situated in a residential area.  He advised that the applicant was re-locating back to the area with her family and that she had not been aware of her brother’s immigration status at the time she specified that he would be the Designated Premises Supervisor at the premises.  He reported that the applicant’s cousin would now be the Designated Premises Supervisor who had obtained her Personal Licence and had experience of working in a garage in London that sold alcohol.  He informed Members that the reason for the application was to make the premises financially viable and that the applicant realised her responsibilities with regard to selling alcohol and outlined how the premises would be operatedin that a number of measures would be in place including staff training, Challenge 25 Policy and CCTV coverage.  He also advised that the applicant was willing to work with residents and the Police and was willing to adopt and agree any conditions proposed.

The applicant and her representative responded to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee, Sergeant Barrigan, Councillor Niblock and Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee.

In response to questions raised, the proposed Designated Premises Supervisor demonstrated her knowledge of the licensing objectives and outlined measures that would be applied to uphold these.  The applicant proposed that no beer or cider above 6.5% ABV would be sold at the premises.

Sergeant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.