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 Michael Rice for a Premises Licence in respect of 92 Banks Road, 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.  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, six representations had been received from local residents.  The representation related to concerns that 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 who were against the application.  Councillor Wright also submitted a petition signed by 47 local residents.

Six representations had also been received from local residents/businesses who considered that the granting of the application would not undermine the licensing objectives.  Copies of all the representations and the petition were available.

The applicant attended the meeting together with his legal representative.  A number of witnesses in support of the application were in attendance.  Ward Councillor Alison Wright also attended the meeting.

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

The Licensing Manager outlined the report.

The applicant’s legal representative reported that the premises had previously had a number of uses and that negotiations were ongoing with the Planning Department in respect of the change of use further to the recent planning application having been refused.  Members were advised that the aim of the application was to provide something different, to provide an old fashioned traditional pub serving only bar snacks and that there would be no intention to offer meals.  The applicant’s legal representative informed Members that the applicant hoped to attract older clientele and as such he believed the perceived concerns of local residents would not apply.  He reported that the applicant had many years’ experience of running licensed premises with no complaints as due to his experience he is able to run premises in a controlled manner.  He advised that deliveries would be made to the front therefore residents of Victoria Avenue would not be affected by this.  The applicant wished to encourage local residents to become regulars of the premises.  He referred to the town as being a hospitality venue with over 30 licensed premises.  He advised that the applicant would uphold the licensing objectives and that there was no application for live  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.