Resolved – That Councillor A Hodson be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members of the Sub-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 John Mitchell to vary a Premises Licence in respect of The Courtyard, 7-9 Rose Mount, Oxton, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The variation requested was 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.

Six representations had been received from local residents.  The representations related to noise nuisance from customers which they advised was currently a problem and concerns that this would be extended until a later hour should the application be granted.  Copies of the representations were available.

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

A number of local residents were also in attendance together with Councillor A Brighouse, Ward Councillor.

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

The applicant’s representative addressed the Sub-Committee and reported that the application was to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol and late night refreshment by one hour on a Friday and Saturday.  He advised that the application had been made in order to keep customers at the premises and prevent them being disruptive when leaving the premises in order to gain access to neighbouring premises.  He informed Members that certain conditions would be placed on the Premises Licence which had been agreed with Merseyside Police in order to manage the premises staying open at a later hour.  He further informed Members that the premises had recently been operating under Temporary Event Notices with the hours applied for and no risks had been identified and no complaints had been received.  He advised that he had invited local residents to a meeting to discuss any concerns raised and that three local residents had attended and he considered that their concerns had been addressed.  He believed that the application should be granted as no specific evidence that the licensing objectives would not be upheld had been provided by local residents.

The applicant, Designated Premises Supervisor and their representative responded to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee, Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee and local residents.

Local residents outlined the history of the area and advised Members that there are a number of licensed premises in Oxton and that their concerns did not relate directly to these premises but to the ongoing effect of premises in the area opening for longer hours.  Residents raised concerns regarding the current operation of the premises in that they believed the planning restrictions had been breached.  They advised that the premises was situated in a residential area and that noise and disturbance was caused by people leaving licensed premises in Oxton late at night which would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.