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 Licensing Act 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 Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application that had been received from Merseyside Police to Review the Premises Licence in respect of Sue’s Bar, 25 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6AA under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. 

The Licensing Manager outlined the report and advised that the Licensing Sub-Committee may, having regard to the application for the Review 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; or

·  Revoke the Licence

Members were informed that the Licensing Authority may decide that no action would be appropriate if it found that the review did not require it to take any steps that were appropriate to promote the licensing objectives.

It was reported that the premises currently hold a Premises Licence allowing the licensable activities as set out within the report.

It was reported that the application to review the Premises Licence had been made by Merseyside Police on the grounds of reports of serious incidents and violent disorder occurring at the premises as well as frequent breaches of the conditions attached to the Premises Licence.  Merseyside Police considered that the current operation of the premises undermined the licencing objectives, in particular the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.

In respect of the review application, a representation had been received from the Licensing Authority who supported the application to review the Premises Licence by Merseyside Police. 

A representation had been received from Environmental Health who advised that they had issued the premises with a Section 80 Environmental Protection Act 1990 Abatement Notice for Statutory Noise Nuisance which was currently in force. 

A representation had also been received from a local resident which related to anti-social behaviour being caused by customers of the premises.  Copies of all representations had been provided to Members.

Merseyside Police were represented at the Hearing by a Police Sergeant and a Licensing Officer, the Licensing Authority was represented by the Licensing Operations Manager and Environmental Health were represented by an Environmental Protection Officer.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that the Premises Licence Holder had made a written submission and had advised they would not be in attendance.

The Police Licensing Officer advised that she was in attendance to represent Merseyside Police who had submitted the Review application.  The Officer provided details to the Sub-Committee in respect of 16 incidents which had occurred at or near to the premises over a period of 12 months.  These included incidents of violence, individuals taking drugs, individuals being drunk in the premises as well as reports of drinks being spiked. Merseyside Police also informed the Sub-Committee of breaches of the conditions attached to the Premises Licence and their serious concern regarding the uncooperative nature of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.