Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED – To elect Councillor Neil Buckley as Chair for the duration 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 and Scrutiny Support 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.

There was no exempt information.

There were no formal late items. However, there was supplementary information provided by West Yorkshire Police, which had been circulated to all parties prior to the hearing.

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

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory requests Members consideration on an application to vary a premises licence made by Saqib Ahmed, for Booze Plus, 33 Tong Road, Farnley, Leeds, LS12 1HQ.

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory advised the Sub-Committee of an application to vary a premises licence made by Saqib Ahmed, for Booze Plus, 33 Tong Road, Farnley, Leeds, LS12 1HQ.

In attendance for the hearing were:

·  Saqib Ahmed – Applicant

·  Constanze Bell – Applicant’s Representative

·  Sarah Blenkhorn – West Yorkshire Police

·  PCSO Brendan Councill – West Yorkshire Police

·  Vanessa Holroyd – Environmental Protection Team

·  Jonathan Hindley – Public Health

·  Cllr Andy Parnham – Local Ward Councillor for Armley

·  Rob Brown – Legal Officer

·  Matthew Nelson – Entertainment Licensing

The Legal Officer set out the procedure for the hearing.

The Licensing Officer presented the report, highlighting the following points:

·  The existing licence authorised sale by retail of alcohol, Monday to Saturday 08:00 – 23:00 and Sunday 10:00 – 22:30. The applicant had applied for an extension for sale by retail of alcohol, everyday 06:00 – 03:00.

·  The Licensing Authority had received a new premises licence in August 2005 which was granted as applied for. In March 2022, the premises licence had been transferred to the current licence holder and there had been a change to the Designated Premises Supervisor. This application had been granted as applied for. In July 2022 the premises licence holder had applied to vary the licence to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the applicant withdrew this application. A copy of the existing licence was appended to the report at Appendix A.

·  The applicant proposed to promote the licensing objectives by taking additional steps identified at section M of the application form which was attached to the report at Appendix B.

·  Appendix C of the report identified the location of the premises.

·  Representations in objection had been made by the following in their capacity as responsible authorities:

o  West Yorkshire Police had made an out-right objection. A copy of this was attached to the report at Appendix D.

o  Environmental Protection Team had suggested measures in relation to a reduction to the hours applied for and litter management. This was appended to the report at Appendix E.

o  Public Health Localities Team had also submitted a representation which was attached to the report at Appendix F.

·  Representations had also been received from a local resident, Ward Councillors, and a Member of Parliament. There was also an individual objection from one of the local Ward Councillors. These objections were appended to the report at Appendix G. 

·  A list of premises in the local area, with the licensed hours and activities was attached at Appendix H.

Ms Bell provided the Licensing Sub-Committee with the following information:

• Members attention was directed to Appendix C of the report which showed the location of the premises.
• The premises is a traditional corner shop which serves the local community. She said that her client had received requests to purchase alcohol outside the permitted hours, showing there was a demand for extended hours.
• The premises was in a working-class location which had customers who worked shifts  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.