Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application to vary a premises licence, made by HGS-UK Ltd, 268 - 270 Harehills Lane, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 7BD. The purpose of this variation is to vary the current licensable activities operating hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration informed Members of an application to vary a premises licence made by HGS – UK Ltd, 268 -270 Harehills Lane, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 7BD.

Members noted that the purpose of the variation was to vary the current licensable activities operating hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Members were advised that the application had attracted representations from a ward councillor on behalf of the Harehills Resident Group who were opposed to this application on the grounds of Crime and Disorder and Public Nuisance, A redacted copy was attached at Appendix E of the submitted report.

No objectors attended the hearing.

Members were advised that this application was in an area where the council has put in place Local Licensing Guidance. The area in which the premises are located had been identified by the Community Committees as vulnerable to problem drinking and there are additional issues that directly impact the promotion of the licensing objectives. It was noted that the applicant had been sent a copy of the guidance but had not volunteered conditions to mitigate concerns. The Local Licensing Guidance was attached at Appendix F of the submitted report.

In attendance at the hearing on behalf of HGS –UK Ltd were:-

·  Dylan Safy – Director HGS –UK Ltd

·  Niyaz Raof – RE Group representing HGS –UK Ltd

·  Ammann Zimri – RE Group – observing

Mr Raof informed the Licensing Sub-Committee that the owner Mr Dylan Safy was a resident in Leeds and the premises opened 5 years ago. Mr Safy is the new owner. He went on to explain that Mr Safy had another shop on Burley Road which opened 24 hours to sell alcohol; he was of the view that this demonstrated that Mr Safy had the key qualities for such a premises. Members were informed that Mr Safy had had no issues with his 24 hour business premises on Burley Road which was in a student residential area.

The Sub-Committee were informed of the following points that Mr Safy would take to promote to the licensing objectives:-

·  Staff training

·  14 High quality CCTV cameras with 2 CCTV cameras positioned outside

·  Bright lights inside and outside the premises

·  Spirits such as vodka and whiskey would only be displayed behind the counter

·  Refusal log system

·  Assist Police and PCSO’s

·  ASB logged

·  Drunk and disorderly customers to be refused

·  Staff would conduct hourly checks around the premises and remove any litter

·  ID approval

In responding to Members questions and also the comments from representations received Mr Raof informed the Sub-Committee of the following points:-

·  Measures had been agreed with Environmental Protection Team in relation to noise from vehicles; hatch shutter system; and rubbish to the rear of the property;

·  The shutters would not be used between 11:00pm and 7:00am;

·  The hatch area would be covered by CCTV;

·  Notices to customers explaining responsibilities in relation to noise would be displayed; 

Member’s were presented with photographs showing the premises. Mr Raof said that a lot of money had been spent on the premises and that this was not your typical local shop but akin to a Sainsbury’s local or Tesco’s Express.

Member’s attention was drawn to a specific photograph showing the rear of the premises which Mr Raof said showed that the area had been cleaned and tidied. Mr Raof said that litter at the rear of the premises had been found to belong to a neighbouring shop. Mr Safy had spoken to the premises owner and requested that the area be kept clean.

It was noted that Mr Raof supplied a number of signatures which purportedly supported the 24 hour opening times of the premises. However, Members were of the view that the signatures should not be used as part of their considerations as (a) words appeared to have been inserted in a different hand and (b) only the front page of the petition document included details of what the signatories were putting their names to.

It was noted that staff lived above the shop.

Mr Raof explained that the hatch would be used for the sale of alcohol from passing trade. He said that Mr Safy would take note of the guidance provided by the Environmental Protection Team and also the guidance provided by other 24 hour shop owners.

Mr Raof said that Mr Safy had not yet put the hatch in but would appreciate the advice of the Sub-Committee on the location of the hatch.

RESOLVED – To grant the application to vary the premises licence with the following conditions:-

·  Hatch to be set back from the building line either in a vestibule or recessed area; and

·  CCTV to be on the hatch and area surrounding the hatch at all times that the hatch is in operation.