Resolved – That Councillor S Niblock 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 or non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

The Assistant Chief Executive reported upon an application that had been received to vary a Premises Licence in respect of Today’s Local, Oxton Road, Birkenhead under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The hours requested within the variation were outlined within the report and the application was also to amend the plan and remove the conditions currently imposed on 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.

Representations had been received from two local residents.  Representations had also been received from the Birkenhead Business Improvement District Co-ordinator of the Wirral Chamber of Commerce, the Franchisee of McDonalds Birkenhead and the proprietor of Salon Sales Limited based in Quarrybank Street.

The representations related to public nuisance and anti-social behaviour caused by street drinkers within the vicinity of the premises and concerns that this would increase should the application be granted.

Representations had also been received from Birkenhead and Tranmere Ward Councillors and Frank Field MP which supported the concerns expressed by local residents and businesses.

Merseyside Police had made a representation as they considered that the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder would be undermined due to the lack of management at the premises and that the premises are located within an area of high level anti-social behaviour.

A representation had been received from Trading Standards who had concerns that the licensing objectives would not be upheld due to a number of offences that had already taken place at the premises.

Public Health had also made a representation which related to concerns that an increase in the availability of alcohol at this particular location could undermine the licensing objectvies.

Representations had also been received from forty local residents who were in support of the application.

Copies of all representations were available.

Ms A Forrest, Solicitor, attended the meeting together with the Premises Licence Holder and Mr Rushton, Consultant for Today’s Local.

Mr G Lee, Inspector Minnery, J Moran and G Littlehales, Merseyside Police attended the meeting.

Also in attendance were Mr S Wiggins, Trading Standards, Ms T Cavanagh, Public Health, Councillor J Stapleton and Mr S Hayes.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that apologies had been received from a Ward Councillor and a local resident.

Ms Forrest addressed Members on behalf of the applicant. She advised that the application was to vary a Premises Licence that was already in existence and believed that the representations referred to an application for a new Premises Licence.  Ms Forrest advised that the issues raised in the objections had been resolved due to a change in management at the premises and an application made to change the Designated Premises Supervisor.  She reported upon the measures that would be put in place to address the concerns raised within the representations and to prevent alcohol being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.