Resolved – That Councillor A Hodson 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 Merseyside Police for a Summary Review of the Premises Licence in respect of Traffic Bar, 110-112 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Managing Director for Delivery advised that the Sub-Committee may, having regard to the application to review the Premises Licence and any 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 summary review did not require it to take any steps that were appropriate to promote the licensing objectives.

The grounds for review were in relation the premises being associated with serious violent disorder.

Members were informed that the premises currently hold a Premises Licence allowing the licensable activities as set out within the report and that the Premises Licence had been suspended on 22 March 2017.  It was reported that the Sub-Committee had considered this step necessary and appropriate due to the premises being associated with serious violent disorder.

A representation had been received from the Licensing Authority.  The Licensing Operations Manager had advised that there had been a number of violent incidents which had occurred at the premises over the past six months.  He also advised that the premises had traded beyond the hours permitted on the Premises Licence and that a number of breaches of the Premises Licence had been identified.  These issues had resulted in a warning letter being issued by the Licensing Authority.  Members were also advised that the premises had also been required by Merseyside Police to produce an action plan to put measures in place to prevent further issues from occurring.  It was pointed out to Members of the Sub-Committee that despite these interventions, a further serious violent incident had occurred.

Merseyside Police were represented by Samantha Cushion, Gillian Littlehales, Inspector C Bland and Constable J Moran.

Mr R Owen, Owen Security Solutions was also in attendance.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received, also that an email had been received by the Licensing Authority from Mr Allen who was the Premises Licence Holder stating that he wished to surrender the Premises Licence.  The Licensing Manager confirmed that all processes had been followed and the Premises Licence had been returned, therefore there was no current Licence Holder at the premises.

Ms S Cushion, Merseyside Police referred to a large scale fight that had taken place at the premises on 20 March 2017 which had resulted in a hearing to determine interim steps where the Premises Licence had been suspended.  Ms Cushion presented CCTV footage to Members of the Sub-Committee and provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.