The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application that had been received from Jaswinder Singh for a Premises Licence in respect of Go Local Extra, 209-211 Seabank Road, New Brighton.

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. 

In respect of the application, the same representation had been submitted individually by 46 local residents and three different representations had been received from other local residents.  The representations related to concerns of additional anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance being caused to local residents should the application be granted.  The representations also made reference to potential issues relating to parking, litter and underage drinking as well as the cumulative impact of licensed premises.  Copies of the representations were available.

The applicant attended the meeting together with his wife and their solicitor.  Members were advised that although notice had been served on all those who had made a representation, only two people had responded to confirm they would not be in attendance.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and also that the same representation had been submitted by 46 individual residents together with three separate representations.

The Licensing Manager outlined the report.

The applicant’s representative reported that the application had been made as the premises had been refurbished from a former post office into a local convenience store selling groceries with a defined area for the sale and supply of alcohol in order that customers may purchase alcohol when they buy their groceries.

The applicant’s representative outlined how the business would be operated and the measures that would be put in place to promote the four licensing objectives.  He advised that the applicant had undertaken relevant training in respect of the sale of alcohol which included but was not limited to the measures that should be put in place in order to prevent underage sales.  It was also reported that should they employ any other staff in the future they would also undertake appropriate training in respect of the sale of alcohol.

Members of the Panel referred to the concerns raised by the local residents of additional crime, anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance being caused to local residents should the application be granted as well as concerns relating to proxy sales, underage drinking and the fact that the application was to sell alcohol from 7.00 am.

In response to the representations made, Members of the Panel were advised that the applicant would be willing to modify the application to sell alcohol from 8.00 am.  The applicant’s representative reported that the applicant had 10 years’ experience working in this type of premises and took their responsibilities in respect of preventing underage sales and proxy sales very seriously as they would not want any anti-social behaviour to be caused by the operation of their premises.

The applicant responded to questions from Members of the Licensing Panel, the Licensing Manager and the Legal Advisor to the Panel.

In determining the application Members of the Licensing Panel had regard to the Licensing Objectives, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the Statutory Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

In coming to their decision, Members gave consideration to the assurances provided by the applicant that the premises would be managed in such a way as to prevent any nuisance being caused to local residents. Members of the Licensing Panel also took into account the conditions put forward in the operating schedule.

In determining the application Members also had regard to the fact that there were no representations from any of the Responsible Authorities, in particular Merseyside Police. 

Members also took into account Section 11 of the Guidance in respect of the review mechanism provided by the Licensing Act 2003 when problems associated with the Licensing Objectives occur after the grant of a Premises Licence.

Resolved –

(1)   That in accordance with Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the application. 

(2)   That the application for a Premises Licence in respect of Go Local Extra, 209-211 Seabank Road, New Brighton be granted with the following hours:

Sale by Retail of Alcohol

Sunday to Saturday  08:00 to 22.00

Hours Open to the Public

Sunday to Saturday  07:00 to 22:00

(3)  That in addition to the conditions set out in the operating schedule, the following conditions be placed on the Premises Licence:

1.  All staff must undertake the following training before being allowed to sell alcohol:

·  Award for Licensed Premises staff

·  Age Verification Course

·  Level 2 Award for Underage Sales Prevention

2.  Evidence of this training must be provided to an Authorised Officer on request.