Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED – That Councillor A Ali be elected as Chair for 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,

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 for Agenda Item 7, Application for the grant of a Premises Licence for Home Bargains, Unit 1, Centre West Retail Park, Stanningley Road, Leeds, LS12 3AS was published and distributed prior to the meeting.

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

There were no declarations.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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 at The Hut, 147 Kirkstall Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3LF.

The following were in attendance:

·  Christopher Wenham, Director of Wenham Homes Ltd

·  Natalie Stocking – Partner of Christopher Wenham and proposed DPS

·  Sam Cunningham – The Hut

·  Councillor Hannah Bithell – Objector

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 (for consumption both on and off the premises) every day from 11:00 to 23:00.

The sale of alcohol would be via a serving hatch to an outdoor seating area and there was no internal access for customers.  In agreement with West Yorkshire Police, the applicant had agreed to reduce the terminal hour of sales to 22:30.

The applicant had attracted representations from Ward Councillors and members of the public.

The applicant and their representatives addressed the Sub-Committee.  The following was highlighted:

·  The premises was currently running as a gift shop and also sold sweets, cakes and drinks.

·  The intention to sell alcohol was to give people an alternative to using off licences or visiting busy bars.

·  There had been a lot of positive feedback from the local community and existing customers had requested the sale of alcohol.

·  Having a licence would give opportunity to people who used the outdoor seating area to have wine or beer with their food.

·  A lot of the products sold at the premises were locally sourced from small businesses.  This included food and gifts.

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, the following was discussed:

·  Staff would do Challenge 25 training and would not serve anyone who was drunk.

·  The premises was set back from the road and fenced off.

·  A portaloo would be installed and this would be fenced off.

·  There would not be problems with the highway getting blocked.  There was only seating for 12 people.

·  Other bars in the area were closer to the roadside.

·  Alcohol has not yet been sold from the premises.

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

·  Whilst the use of the premises as a shop was welcomed it was not felt appropriate as a licensed premises.

·  There had been attempts to visit the premises but it had always been closed.

·  Even though it was proposed to be a venue for higher priced drinks, there were other nearby higher priced drinking establishments that people attended just for drinking.

·  It had been reported that alcohol was already being sold at the premises and a chalk board was advertising wines and spirits.

·  There were concerns regarding toilet facilities and whether planning permission would be required for the portaloo.

·  Public safety – there were concerns with the proximity to the highway and a major road junction.

·  Prevention of public nuisance – There was not proposed to be any security staff and there were already problems in the area with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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 nine short films to be shown at South Leeds Youth Hun Middleton Road, Belle Isle.  The films will be shown as part of Leeds Young Film Festival on Tour, taking place throughout August 2024 during Breeze’s Healthy Holiday Summer Camp.

A synopsis of each of the films was detailed in the report along with proposed recommendations for certification.  Details of officer comments were also attached and no concerns had been raised with regards to the films or the proposed classifications.  A ‘U’ Certification had been requested for each of the films.

RESOLVED – That the application be requested as applied for and each of the nine films be given a ‘U’ classification.