Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory.

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory presented an application for the grant of a Premises Licence for Home Bargains, Unit 1, Centre West Retail Park, Stanningley Road, Leeds, LS12 3AS.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Alex Green, Gosschalks LLP – Representing the applicant
• Gary Egerton, National Licensing Manager, Home Bargains
• Mark McGrady, Home Bargains

The Legal Officer explained the procedure to be followed and the Licensing Officer presented the application.

The application was for the sale by retail of alcohol, every day between 06:00 and 00:00 for consumption off the premises.

Responsible authorities and Ward Members had been notified of the application and the application had attracted representations from other parties.  The premises fell within the Cumulative Impact Area as detailed in the supplement to the Agenda.

The applicant was invited to address the Sub-Committee.  The following was highlighted:

• Home Bargains operated over 600 stores nationwide.  There had never been any review proceedings against the company which was testament to the standard of operation.
• £1 million had been invested in the store and it would potentially create up to 50 jobs.
• There would only be a very limited alcohol range which would mainly consist of beers and wines and would only take up 2% of store space.
• It was proposed to sell alcohol to allow customers to do all their shopping in one visit.
•  The premises would have digital CCTV throughout, the Challenge 25 scheme would be in operation along with till prompts and comprehensive training for all staff.  There would be three Premises Licence Holders at the store and Home Bargains was part of the Retail Alcohol Standards Group.
• The Sub-Committee was asked to note that there had not been any representations made by any of the responsible authorities and conditions had been agreed with the police.  If the application and conditions offered had not been adequate, there would have been objections from the police.

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, discussion included the following:

• The fact that the premises fell within the Cumulative Impact Area did not automatically mean the application should be refused.  Responsible authorities had opportunity to object.
• The lack of representation from the responsible authorities was a positive sign.
• The hours applied for were to allow flexibility.  The store would not usually be open for that length of hours, but this would give opportunity for sale of alcohol should there be an extension of opening times at periods such as Christmas.
• The applicant’s representative indicated that they would be willing to reduce the hours from 07:00 to 23:00.
• It was not proposed to have SIA security staff at the store.

The applicant’s representative was invited to summarise. He referred to Home Office guidance with regards to reasons to refuse an application based on the licensing objectives but saw there was no good reason to contradict the guidance for this application.  There had only been one objection from a resident and West Yorkshire Police would have objected if they felt that any objections would have carried considerable weight.  The applicant had offered robust conditions and was a major national retailer with a spotless record.

The Sub-Committee went into private session to make their deliberations and re-convened to put some more questions to the applicant. 

Further discussion included the following:

• The applicant would be carrying out a full risk assessment and would liaise with the police regarding security arrangements.
• A condition to limit the strength of beers and ciders would not be unusual and similar conditions are in place at some of their stores elsewhere.
• The applicant reiterated that they would be happy to reduce the hours applied for.  It was not thought that the store would ever be open beyond 22:00.

The Sub-Committee went into private session to make their deliberations and carefully considered the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, the submissions made in writing and at the hearing and also the Statement of Licensing Policy.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted subject to the following:

• Sale of alcohol to be only permitted between 07:00 and 23:00
• No beers or ciders above 6.5% abv to be sold.

·  A minimum of one Security Industry Authority accredited individual shall be deployed within the premises during the hours when alcohol is offered for sale.

·  There shall be no sale of spirits, other than occasional, one-off, seasonal gift packs.