Resolved – That Councillor D Burgess-Joyce 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 Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application that had been received from Shucos Limited for a Premises Licence in respect of 172 Telegraph Road, Heswall.

It was reported that the premises do not currently have a Premises Licence.  The hours applied for were set out within the report.  Following discussions with Merseyside Police, the hours requested for the sale of alcohol and hours open to the public had been reduced by one hour on Friday and Saturday.  The applicant had originally requested that these activities be ceased at 02:00 on Friday and Saturday.

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.  Following discussions with Merseyside Police the applicant had agreed to include a number of conditions on the Premises Licence should the application be granted.  Details of these conditions were set out within the report.

In respect of the application, two representations had been received from local residents.  The representation 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 Andrew Hodson who supported the representation submitted by a local resident.  Copies of all the representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting.  Two local residents who had made representations were also in attendance.

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

The Licensing Manager outlined the report.  It was highlighted to Members that following discussions with Merseyside Police, the hours had been reduced by one hour and that a number of conditions had been proposed to be attached to the Premises Licence should it be granted.  The written representation was referred to that had been submitted by Ward Councillor Andrew Hodson who supported local residents.

The applicant informed Members of the Panel that he was a director of a business three doors down from these premises and had owned that premises for four years with no issues.  He advised that his existing business was purely a restaurant and that this offer could not be extended.  He had therefore made this application in order that a café/bar could be operated on the ground floor of the premises with comfortable seating and background music and upstairs would be operated as a bar for customers to attend for a drink during the evening and also to operate as a function room for events/private parties.  He advised that he was hoping to attract a demographic for people over the age of 30 and that the upstairs area would not be operated as a disco.

The applicant responded to questions from the local residents in attendance, the Legal Advisor to the Panel and Members of the Licensing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.