Resolved –

(1)  That Councillor S Niblock be appointed Chair to consider the matter in respect of West Kirby Arts Centre together with Councillors L Reecejones and J Salter.

(2)  That Councillor A Hodson be appointed Chair to consider the matter in respect of Pensby Filling Station together with Councillors W J Davies and S Niblock.

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.

Councillor L Reecejones declared a personal interest in respect of West Kirby Arts Centre by virtue of being acquainted with a resident who was objecting to the application.

The applicant and his representative raised no objection to this and confirmed they were happy for the hearing to proceed.

  Councillor L Reecejones declared a personal interest in respect of this matter by virtue of being acquainted in a professional capacity with a resident who was objecting to the application.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application that had been received from Anthony Woof for a Premises Licence in respect of West Kirby Arts Centre, 29 Brookfield Gardens, West Kirby, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The hours requested were outlined within the report.  It was reported that this application had been listed to be considered by the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee on 15 December 2014, however, an adjournment of the matter had been agreed to enable discussions to take place between the applicant and local residents.

It was further reported that the applicant had held a public meeting at the Centre on 4 January 2015 which had been attended by 16 local residents and subsequently the applicant had submitted a letter outlining the discussion that had taken place at the meeting and a list of conditions which he proposed be attached to the Premises Licence.

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 and that following discussions with Merseyside Police, the applicant had agreed to amend the application to include a number of conditions within the Operating Schedule.

Representations had been received from eighteen local residents and a petition containing thirty four signatures had also been received.  The representations related to public nuisance and anti-social behaviour which it was considered would be caused by customers of the premises should the application be granted.  Copies of the representations were available.

Four representations had also been received in support of the application.  It was considered within these representations that the granting of the Premises Licence would not undermine any of the licensing objectives.  Copies of the representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting and was represented by Mr Holland who was in support of the application and made representations to the Sub-Committee.

Eight local residents who objected to the application were also in attendance.

Mr Holland confirmed that he had no objections to Councillor L Reecejones considering the application further to her having declared she was acquainted with one of the residents who was objecting to the application.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that communication had been received from two households stating that following the meeting held with residents, they had withdrawn their objections to the application.

It was confirmed that one local resident who objected to the application was unable to attend the meeting therefore one of the other local residents who was in attendance would submit the representations on her behalf.

Mr Holland addressed the Sub-Committee and outlined the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application that had been received from Longacres Filling Station for a Premises Licence in respect of Pensby Filling Station, Pensby Road, Pensby under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The hours requested were outlined within the report and it was reported that the applicant had agreed to reduce the original hours applied for subsequent to discussions with Merseyside Police.

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.  Members were also advised that the applicant had agreed to a number of conditions being included in the Operations Schedule should the Premises Licence be granted.

Representations had been received from five local residents.  A petition containing 75 signatures had also been received.  The representations related to concerns regarding the impact of another licensed premises in Pensby Road.  Residents had stated that they currently experienced anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol within the vicinity of these premises.  Copies of the representations and petition were available.

The Operations Manager of Longacres attended the meeting with his representative, Ms Sherratt.

A local resident was also in attendance together with Councillor L Reecejones, Ward Councillor.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that one household of two residents had indicated they were unable to attend the meeting.

Ms Sherratt queried the relevance of the petition as no reference to the licensing objectives had been made.  She therefore requested that Members dismiss the petition.  Ms Sherratt also raised objections to Councillor L Reecejones speaking on behalf of residents.

Councillor L Reecejones confirmed that in light of the objections raised she would not make representations at the meeting.

Ms Sherratt addressed the Sub-Committee and advised that the applicant owned three businesses which were all service stations with Premises Licences for 24 hours.  She advised that the other businesses were all bigger than these premises and had been well run with no complaints and no failed test purchases.  She informed Members that the Operations Manager had overseen the businesses for a number of years and that a Manager had been employed at these premises.  Ms Sherratt reported that the premises would offer a full range of goods and would also have a cash machine and lottery.  She advised that a number of improvements had already been made including the CCTV being upgraded with 16 cameras and till prompts and a refusals register at the premises.  She informed Members that there would be two full time and three part time members of staff and that Texaco ran a full training package and would train all staff.  She referred to the fact that no representations had been made by any of the Responsible Authorities and requested that the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.