Resolved – That Councillor J Salter 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 Assistant Chief Executive reported upon an application that had been received from Trading Standards for the review of the Premises Licence in respect of RS Food and Wine, 52 Derby Road, Tranmere under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

Members were informed that the premises currently hold a Premises Licence allowing the licensable activities as set out within the report. A copy of the Premises Licence setting out the hours and conditions attached to the licence was available.

The Assistant Chief Executive advised that the Sub-Committee may, having regard to the application for review and any other relevant representations, take such of the following steps as it considered appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives:

·  Modify the Conditions of the Licence

·  Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the Licence.

·  Remove the Designated Premises Supervisor.

·  Suspend the Licence for a period not exceeding three months.

·  Revoke the Licence.

Members were informed that the Licensing Authority may decide that no action would be appropriate if it found that the review did not require it to take any steps necessary to promote the licensing objectives.

The grounds for review were in relation to counterfeit alcohol being sold at the premises.

Representations had been received from Wirral Licensing Authority, Environmental Health and Public Health.

The representations related to breaches of the Premises Licence and concerns that the licensing objectives were being undermined.

Representations had also been received from local residents supporting the operation of the business.

Heidi Jones, Trading Standards, attended the meeting together with Andrew Bushell, Wirral Licensing Authority and Tricia Cavanagh-Wilkinson, Public Health.

The Premises Licence Holder who was also the Designated Premises Supervisor was in attendance together with his representative, Mr Jordan.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that Mr J Hardwick, Environmental Health was unable to attend the meeting and had submitted authorisation for his Manager, Mr K Smith to make representations when he was in attendance.

Heidi Jones, Trading Standards reported that on 10 November 2015 the premises had been visited as part of a multi agency operation and that during this visit 354 bottles of Vodka bearing the Glen’s label and 19 bottles of vodka bearing the Metropolis label had been seized.  Ms Jones advised that subsequent investigations identified the vodka bearing the Glen’s label was counterfeit.  Members were informed that during a PACE interview with the Premises Licence Holder, Trading Standards had been informed that the vodka had been purchased by the Premises Licence Holder from a representative who had visited the store and that there had been no previous relationship between the premises and the supplier.  Trading standards submitted that the invoice provided relating to these goods was a bogus invoice and that the company referred to in the invoice did not exist.  Further enquiries made by Trading Standards could find no record of a company trading in the name of KP Wholesale Ltd.  Ms Jones advised Members that a campaign had been undertaken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.