Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – Councillor Wilkinson was elected Chair of the meeting.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1)  To highlight reports or appendices which:

a)  officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

b)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

c)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information

2)  To note that under the Licensing Procedure rules, the press and the public will be excluded from that part of the hearing where Members will deliberate on each application as it is in the public interest to allow the Members to have a full and frank debate on the matter before them.

The agenda contained no exempt information.

No late items of business were added to the agenda.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made; however Councillor Khan reported receipt of an unsolicited text purporting to be related to the application for Venus International (minute 6 refers). Councillor Khan stated that he did not know the sender - Mr Ali; and receipt of the text would not influence how he would consider the application. The applicant Mr Abdulkadir also confirmed that he did not know Mr Ali.

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application for the grant of a premises licence for the premises known as ‘ Venus International’, 18 Harehills Road, Harehills, Leeds, LS8 5PB

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report for an application for the grant of a premises licence for Venus International, 18 Harehills Road, Harehills Leeds LS8 5PB. The application was made by Mr Jawad Abdulkadir for the sale of alcohol.

In presenting the report, the Licensing Officer made a correction to paragraph 3.3 to clarify the hours sought as Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 23:00 hours, and Sundays 09:00 to 23:00 hours.

The application had received representations from three local residents; however as none of them attended the hearing, the Sub Committee resolved to consider their written representations and proceed in their absence. It was noted that a fourth representation from a local resident had been withdrawn prior to the hearing. No representations had been received from the responsible authorities. Mr Abdulkadir was in attendance at the hearing; represented by N Raof.

Mr Raof provided the Sub Committee with a brief outline of the applicants’ retail (2-3 years) and one year licensed trade experience. He confirmed that the premises was a convenience store, with a proposed off-licence facility and highlighted the measures offered by Mr Abdulkadir in respect of conditions to be added to the premises licence in order to address the four licensing objectives. Mr Raof suggested that the responsible authorities had not made representations because of the measures proposed by the applicant.

Mr Raof addressed the comments made in the written submissions received.  He reported that, having contacted one of the residents and discussed the application with them, that resident had indicated that they would withdraw their representation. The Licensing Officer confirmed that no formal notification of this had been received from the local resident.

In respect of noise and nuisance, Mr Raof highlighted that there were several licensed premises within a 100 – 300m radius of Venus International. The premise did not currently sell alcohol. Mr Raof indicated that the measures proposed by Mr Abdulkadir were very similar to those operated by larger stores (Challenge 25 measures, provision of CCTV both inside and outside the store with footage retained for 31 days etc)

Responding to questions from the Sub Committee, Mr Raof and Mr Abdulkadir provided the following additional information:

-  In order to address concerns about additional litter, staff will be trained to regularly monitor the outside area and to litter pick

-  In respect of people congregating outside the premises, Mr Raof noted that this was an issue which affected many businesses and there was only so much could be done to encourage people to move on.

-  The applicant intended to work with the Neighbourhood Policing Team

-  The convenience store element of Venus International was already operating. This application was made in response to patrons asking to purchase alcohol as part of their shop. The applicant felt that he would be better able to complete with existing stores in the locality with the provision of alcohol

-  The applicant anticipated that alcohol sales would account for 20% of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application for the grant of a premises licence for Victoria Gate Casino Victoria Gate, Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7JL. This is the first application for a premises licence for these premises. The premises are located within the cumulative impact area for City Centre - Green Zone

This application was withdrawn from the agenda prior to the meeting as the applicants and all interested parties had reached agreements on measures suggested in order to promote the licensing objectives of the city. The Premise Licence will therefore be issued by the Licensing Officer.