Resolved – That Councillor S Niblock 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 Mr Wadah Hariz for a Premises Licence in respect of News Days, 47 Oxton Road, 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 a local resident.  A petition had also been received signed by 151 local residents.  The representation and petition related to public nuisance being caused by street drinkers within the vicinity of the premises and concerns that if the application is granted public nuisance would increase.  Copies of the representation and the petition were available.

A representation had also been received from Merseyside Police.  The representation related to a current problem with street drinkers within the vicinity of the premises.  Merseyside Police had concerns that the licensing objectives would not be upheld should the application be granted.  A copy of the representation was available.

The applicant attended the meeting.

Sergeant S Barrigan and Constable P Coley, Merseyside Police, were also in attendance.

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 and submitted the petition was unable to attend the meeting.

The applicant advised Members that he had owned a number of licensed premises in Wirral and that he had been trading since 1996.  He informed Members that he had submitted the application for a Premises Licence in order to offer customers a comprehensive range of products.  He believed that the premises would not be a viable business without a Premises Licence and would close down.  He reported that he was a Team Leader of Wirral Change and therefore had a knowledge of the local area and the problems regarding street drinkers in the vicinity.

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

In response to questions raised, the applicant demonstrated his knowledge of the current problems in the area and outlined some measures he considered would address these issues.

Sergeant Barrigan reported upon concerns that the premises would give rise to a negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives should the application be granted.  He accepted the applicant’s knowledge of the area which was demonstrated through his verbal representations however he still believed the applicant should have a better understanding of the policies that needed to be in place to uphold the licensing objectives.  Sergeant Barrigan referred to his written representations and the chronology of the applicant’s involvement with the premises.  Sergeant Barrigan also provided details of the crime  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.