Resolved – That Councillor M Sullivan 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 Managing Director for Delivery reported upon an application that had been received from ABI Express Limited for a Premises Licence in respect of ABI Express, 10-12 Grange Road West, Birkenhead, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

It was reported that the premises were currently closed and do not 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 application be granted.

Representations had been received from Merseyside Police, the Licensing Authority, Public Health, Ward Councillors, Local Businesses, Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Wirral Ways to Recovery.

The representations related to concerns that the granting of a Premises Licence for this store would add to the existing alcohol related anti-social behaviour suffered in the area.  The representations also related to concerns of street drinkers in the vicinity and an increase in the availability of alcohol and to the cumulative impact of licensed premises in the area.

The applicant, Mr Kanthanathan attended the meeting together with his solicitor Ms Forrest and Mr Rushton, Licensing Consultant.

Ms S Cushion, Police Licensing and Inspector K Wilkinson, Merseyside Police were in attendance together with Mr A Bushell, Licensing Operations Manager, Ms T Cavanagh, Public Health, Ward Councillor and local resident Jean Stapleton, Ms P Jain, local business owner, Mr Dobson and Mr Scarth, Town Hosts and Ms McKeown, Wirral Ways to Recovery.

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

Ms Forrest addressed the Sub-Committee and set out the measures that would be put in place to address the concerns raised and to prevent alcohol being sold in such a way that it would be detrimental to the community, in particular, through the sale of alcohol to street drinkers.  Ms Forrest advised Members that the premises would operate as a convenience store and not as an off licence.  She believed that the application was comprehensive in that it offered numerous conditions and advised that the applicant had signed up to a number of local initiatives.  She also advised Members that the applicant was experienced in the licensing trade and had invested a large sum of money in renovating the premises.  Ms Forrest referred to the measures proposed by the applicant which included participation in the Reducing the Strength Initiative, no single cans or bottles of cider or lager, no cheap white wine, signs advising that the premises would not serve street drinkers, high specification CCTV, an EPOS till system and staff training. 

Ms Forrest referred to the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the Statutory Guidance, that the application should be considered on its own merits and that cumulative impact should be given general consideration.

In response to concerns raised by Merseyside Police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.