Agenda and minutes

To seek nominations for the election for the position of Chair.

RESOLVED – That Councillor L Richards be elected as Chair for the hearing.

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 and Scrutiny Support at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals.

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.

There was no exempt information.

There were no late items.  Supplementary information had been submitted which included the statement of licensing policy, cumulative impact assessment, witness statements and a submission on behalf of the applicant.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory which sets out details of an application which seeks the grant of a premises licence for Lietuvaite Shop Ltd, 15 Branch Road, Armley, Leeds, LS12 3AQ

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer, Licensing and Regulatory presented an application for the grant of a Premises Licence for Lietuvaite Shop, Branch Road, Armley.

The application was for the sale by retail of alcohol, everyday 09:00 to 21:00 (for consumption off the premises)

The following were in attendance:

Mr S Gibson – Representing the Applicant

Mr R Zirnikas – Applicant

Councillor L Cunningham – Local Ward Councillor

Sarah Blenkhorn – West Yorkshire Police

PCSO Matthew Benn – West Yorkshire Police

PCSO Peter Cade – West Yorkshire Police

Susan Duckworth – Licensing Authority

Jonathon Hindley – Public Health

Peter Mudge - Communities Team

The Legal Officer explained the procedure to be followed.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented the application.

The application had attracted representations from West Yorkshire Police, the Licensing Authority and Public Health in their capacity as responsible authorities.  Representations had also been made by the local Member of Parliament; Ward Councillors; the Communities, Housing & Environment Team and St George’s Crypt.

The Sub-Committee was informed that the premises fell within the cumulative impact area for Armley.

The applicant’s representative addressed the Sub-Committee.  The following was raised:

·  The premises were a specialist food store aimed mainly at the Latvian and Lithuanian communities and it was proposed to sell alcohol to supplement food shopping and enable customers to do this within one visit.

·  The applicant was mindful of the objections submitted and the cumulative impact area. He had offered to reduce the proposed hours for sale of alcohol from 10:00 to 20:00 which would avoid sales during the morning school run.

·  Any licensable activity would be ancillary to food sales.

·  There would be no self service of alcohol and all alcohol would be kept behind the counter.

·  All alcohol products would be individually labelled or have ultra violet markings.  This could be conditioned should the license be granted.

·  There would not be any sales of super strength lagers or ciders.  There would be no lagers or ciders above 6% strength.  This would deter street drinkers.

·  It was felt that conditions offered countered the objections raised and the closed licence would act as a deterrent.  It would not be easy to purchase alcohol and easier to refuse service as it would be kept behind the counter.

·  There would be a maximum of 15% selling space used for alcohol.

·  With regards to the cumulative impact policy it was felt that this application should be considered on its own individual merits and the applicant had no intention of breaking any conditions of sale by selling to the wrong people.

In response to questions from the sub-committee, the following was discussed:

·  Spirits and wines would be available for sale.

·  It was recognised from the objections submitted that there was a problem with street drinkers in the area and the applicant did not want to add to that.

·  Alcohol would account for 10 to 15% of sales.

·  There was no current facility for sale of refrigerated alcohol but it was proposed to do so.

·  The premises  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.