RESOLVED:

That Councillor Andrew 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 were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and any

other relevant interest and to state the nature of the interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services had submitted a report to the Licensing Act Sub-Committee to consider an application for a Premises Licence under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. The application was made by Mr Hastyar Husseni, in respect of 351 Woodchurch Road, Prenton, CH42 8PE.

The hours applied for the Premises Licence 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 had been provided to Members. Members were advised that the proposals set out in the operating schedule may become conditions of the licence should the application be granted.

In respect of the application, nine representations from local residents objecting to the proposal had been received. The representations related to concerns of public safety due to the location of the premises, under-age drinking, public nuisance, and anti-social behaviour. Copies of the representations were made available to Members. Two representatives attended the meeting.

The applicant’s representative, JMC, informed Members that the applicant Mr Husseni had been unable to attend the meeting, due to a family member having been taken ill overseas. Mr Husseni’s business partner Mr Hassan and another individual Mr Halmat Ahmed who also had an interest in the premises however were in attendance.  

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received. The Licensing Manager outlined the report to Members, and informed them that no representations had been made from the nine responsible authorities objecting to the application.

The Applicant’s representative addressed the Sub-Committee and sought clarification with the Licensing Manager as to which representations related to the objectors in attendance at the meeting.

The Applicant’s representative informed the Sub-Committee that his representations would be based on key statements of fact. He confirmed that he had studied relevant licensing guidance, and a full risk assessment had been conducted against the four licensing objectives.

The representative told Members that the original application had reasonably addressed each of the licensing objectives and a robust operating schedule had been included. There had been a consultation process, and each of the nine responsible authorities had agreed and accepted the documentation submitted. He highlighted that no concerns had been raised on the original application. The staff who would be involved with the premises were experienced in the retail sale of alcohol, and had successfully owned several similar businesses across the Wirral and Chester for approximately eight years.

The representative addressed the concerns raised by the objectors, and summarised that the majority of these had been based on issues unrelated to the premises, or issues in effect prior to the shop opening.

The representative gave details about how the premises would manage its operation, including the conditions within the operating schedule, training materials and the use of refusal books and incident books. He highlighted to Members that the objections included assumptions around the management of the premises.

It was raised by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.