Resolved – That Councillor A Hodson be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members of the Licensing Panel 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 Panel 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 Chair of the Licensing Panel announced that this meeting was being held virtually, was being webcast and a record would be retained.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application that had been received from Wirral Council for a Premises Licence in respect of Wirral Sailing Centre, South Parade, West Kirby.

It was reported that the premises do not currently have a Premises Licence.  The hours applied for were set out 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.  It was reported that following discussions with Merseyside Police, the applicant had agreed to include a number of conditions on the Premises Licence.

In respect of the application four representations had been received from local residents who were objecting to the application.  The representations related to concerns of anti-social behaviour occurring within the vicinity of the premises and public nuisance being caused to local residents should the application be granted.

A representation had also been received from Ward Councillor Alison Wright who supported the representations submitted by local residents.  Copies of all representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting by way of video conference.

Two local residents also attended the meeting by way of video conference.

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

The Licensing Manager outlined the report and informed Members of the Licensing Panel that further to consideration of the representations made, the applicant had amended the application to reduce the hours applied for and had also withdrawn the Non-Standard Timings in respect of Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.

The applicant advised Members of the Licensing Panel that the intention was to operate the premises as a café during the daytime and to offer a high end restaurant service during the evening which would be table service only.

The applicant further advised that the premises would not facilitate vertical drinking as no bar service would be available.  The applicant reported on the number of covers both inside and outside the premises, that no music would be played outside on the balcony and that this area would be cleared by 9.00 pm. 

The applicant responded to questions from Members of the Licensing Panel, local residents and Mr D K Abraham, Legal Advisor to the Panel.

In response to questions from local residents, the applicant advised that they would be content to have conditions applied to the Premises Licence confirming that the outside balcony area would be cleared by 9.00 pm and that the doors leading onto the balcony would remain closed from 9.00 pm.  The applicant emphasised that the business would operate professionally with the aim that the facility would be one for the people of West Kirby to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.