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 27 Station Road, Horsforth, Leeds.

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

The application was for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises every day from 07:00 to 23:00.

The application had received representations from West Yorkshire Police and local residents.  A number of conditions had since been agreed with West Yorkshire Police which included CCTV, keeping an Incident Report Register. Supervision of alcohol on the premises and advertising standards.

The following were in attendance:

-  Mr M Ainsworth – Representing the applicant

-  Mr K Ahmad – Applicant

-  Mr & Mrs Wilson – Local residents.

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

·  The applicant had a history of running similar premises without any incidents or complaints.

·  The applicant had already implemented the kind of conditions requested by the police in other premises.

·  The application would meet all of the licensing objectives.

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

·  The applicant was prepared to operate the ‘Challenge 25’ scheme as part of the measures to prevent anyone under age from buying alcohol or tobacco.

·  With regard to concerns regarding noise nuisance and litter, it was reported the premises were on an attractive shopping parade and the applicant would not want to contribute to any disturbance.  Any litter would be cleared from outside the premises at closing time.

·  Single cans of alcohol would not be for sale.  This would discourage those who wanted to drink immediately or drink in the streets.

A local resident addressed the Sub-Committee with concerns and objections to the application.  These included the following:

·  There were already enough shops selling alcohol and tobacco in the area.

·  One of the local shops had started closing earlier and this had seen a reduction in littering.

·  Littering did not take place just outside the shops.  Litter could be found up to four hundred yards away.

·  People congregating and drinking in the street could be intimidating.

·  There was a bus stop close to the premises which was used by young people.  This may encourage them to drink.

·  The shop still had a poster in the front window advertising alcohol.  This was contradictory to the condition requested by the police.

In summary, the applicant’s representative reported that should the license be granted then the advertising would be remove.  The applicant did not want to contribute to any existing problems with nuisance and litter and had a history of running similar premises without complaint.

The Licensing Sub-Committee carefully considered the report of the Chief Officer (Elections and Regulatory), the Statement of Licensing and Policy and the representations made at the hearing.

RESOLVED – That the application for a Premises Licence at 27 Station Road, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5BA be granted with the addition of the conditions agreed with West Yorkshire Police (as found in Appendix C) and a further condition that Challenge 25 be operated at the premises.