Resolved –

(1)  That Councillor M Sullivan be appointed Chair in respect of the application for Pizza Magic, 57 Market Street, Hoylake.

(2)  That Councillor T Norbury be appointed Chair in respect of the application for Grange News, 44 Grange Road, Birkenhead.

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 Jakleen Hanna for a Premises Licence in respect of Pizza Magic, 57 Market Street, Hoylake, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises previously had a Premises Licence which had lapsed on 31 May 2016 due to the Premises Licence Holder, Hanna Trading Limited, being dissolved.  The hours permitted by the Premises Licence were outlined within the report together with the hours requested.

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.  Also, following discussions with Merseyside Police, the applicant had agreed to a number of conditions being placed on the Premises Licence should the application be granted.

Representations had been received from a local resident and also from the Hoylake Residents Forum.  The representations related to concerns that public nuisance would be caused if the application was granted with the hours requested.

A representation had also been received from the Planning Authority.  The Planning Officer had advised that should the application be granted, the licensing objectives relating to the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder would be undermined.  Copies of the representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting together with Mr and Mrs Taher.

Mr S Williamson, Planning Officer was also in attendance.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that the local residents who had made representations had advised they would not be in attendance.  The Licensing Manager also advised that Mr and Mrs Taher had been given permission to support the applicant.  The applicant had indicated that she wished to submit a petition and some photographs of other premises at the appropriate time, to which Mr Williamson had agreed.

The applicant addressed the Sub-Committee and explained that Hanna Trading Limited had been dissolved, however, the premises had still been operating as Pizza Magic.  Mrs Taher confirmed that there had been a change in the trading structure and that the application made was to continue operating as they had beenwhich was until 11.30 pm during the week and approximately 12.30 am at weekends and that these hours had been operated for over 10 years.  She advised that their main competitor was open until 1.00 am and believed that they would be at a great disadvantage should they not be permitted the same hours.  Mrs Taher informed Members that Pizza Magic was a local business which had been run by a local family for twenty eight years.  Mr Taher also advised that a significant amount of business was undertaken through online and telephone orders resulting in less customers attending the premises late at night.

The petition in support of the application was distributed to Members.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Assistant Chief Executive reported upon an application that had been received from Mr Farman Ali for a Premises Licence in respect of Grange News, 44 Grange Road, Birkenhead, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises do not currently hold a Premises Licence.  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.

Representations had been received from Ward Councillors, a local business, the Wirral Chamber of Commerce and the Birkenhead First Business Improvement District, Wirral Ways to Recovery, the Town Host Manager, Merseyside Police, Trading Standards, Public Health and the Licensing Authority.

The representations related to anti-social behaviour within the vicinity of the premises caused by street drinkers, concerns of underage sales of alcohol, noise nuisance, illicit tobacco having been seized at the premises, an increase in the availability of alcohol and the lack of information provided within the application in relation to the steps that would be taken to promote the licensing objectives, particularly given the location of the premises in an area which is known for street drinkers.

Copies of all the representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting together with his representative, Mr Noorani.

Ward Councillor, Jean Stapleton, Mr Dobson and Mr Scarth, Town Host Managers, Ms H Jones, Trading Standards, Gill Littlehales and Sam Cushion, Police Licensing and Inspector Wilkinson, Merseyside Police, Mr G Hill and Mr G Rickwood, Public Health were also in attendance.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that it had been agreed by the applicant that the Licensing Operations Manager could provide some photographs of the area during the meeting.

The applicant’s representative addressed the Sub-Committee and explained that the applicant had made the application for an off licence and subsequently objections had been received from several bodies.  He advised Members that he did not agree with the objections raised and that he shared the objective to reduce crime in the area.

In response to questions from the Members of the Sub-Committee, Mr A Bayatti, Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee and the parties present, the applicant confirmed that he held a Personal Licence and would provide training for staff members from an outside company.  He also advised that he was planning to provide a delivery service of alcohol up to 11.00 pm which he believed would be assisting the community as deliveries of alcohol would alleviate the potential for people drinking and driving and alcohol related crime and disorder.  He expected that there would be 50% sales of alcohol at the premises and 50% from deliveries and he would deliver in a 3-4 mile radius.  The applicant advised that he would implement a Challenge 18 Policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.