Minutes for Licensing Sub-Committee meeting, Sep 15 2009, 10.00AM official page

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Bigley be elected Chair for this meeting of the Sub-Committee.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director regarding an application by One Stop Stores Limited for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of the above premises as follows:

• The sale of alcohol by retail (off the premises):

Monday to Sunday

06.00 to 23.00

• Hours premises to be open to the public:

Monday to Sunday

06.00 to 23.00

Representations, including a petition objecting to the application had been received and this necessitated a hearing for which the Sub-Committee had been convened.

Mr Harvey, Treasurer, Waterloo Residents Association made an application to the Sub-Committee to make representations on behalf of the Waterloo residents.

After considering the application from Mr Harvey, the Sub-Committee dismissed the application and indicated that as he had not submitted written representations prior to the meeting he was unable to address the Committee.

The Committee heard representations from:

(1)

Ms. R. Lynne,  DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary UK LLP and Mr. M.Cooke, One Stop Stores Limited on behalf of the applicant in support of the application;

(3)

Mrs. J. Prescott objecting to the application and

(4)

Councillor V. Webster, Ward Councillor, on behalf of local residents.

All parties agreed the issues that were in contention and the procedure that was to be followed.  There were no preliminary issues raised and at the end of their representations, everyone confirmed that they had said all they wished to say.

The Sub-Committee retired under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act (Hearings) Regulations 2005 (as amended) and therefore excluded the press and public whilst they reached their decision on the application.  The Sub-Committee returned to give their decision in public.

RESOLVED

That the premises licence in respect of the One Stop Stores, 123-129 South Road, Waterloo be granted as requested.

Subject to the following condition:

(1)

The Designated Premises Supervisor shall arrange meetings with Waterloo Residents Association on a bi-annual basis, the first meeting to be held within 56 days of the premises opening.

Reasons:

The Sub-Committee have heard representations made on behalf of the applicant and also from Mrs Prescott and Councillor Webster on behalf of the residents.

Having considered the representations the Sub-Committee were not presented with any evidence today not to grant the licence as requested.

The Sub-Committee accept that there are genuine concerns within the community and feel that regular meetings between the Manager and Waterloo Residents Association will go some way to resolve the any issues that may arise in the future at an early stage.

That said, the residents are reminded that should their concerns come to fruition and not be met as a result of the meetings, they do have the right of review.

The Sub-Committee take this opportunity to advise all concerned that the authority take the protection of children from harm very seriously and undertake test purchase operations in the area.