Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers are invited to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 5 (Licensing Act 2003: Application for a new Premises Licence at Foragin Ltd, 83a Stockport Road, Marple) as appendices to the report contained information ‘not for publication’ in accordance with Section 14(2) of The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 and where the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED – That notwithstanding the submission of information as part of Agenda Item 5 – ‘Licensing Act 2003: Application for a New Premises Licence at Etherow Park Care, George Street, Compstall’ which had been classified as ‘Not for Publication’ by virtue of it containing material which related to an individual, the Sub-Committee was satisfied that in the circumstances it was not necessary for the public to be excluded from the meeting.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and members of the Sub-Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Sub-Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided.  These are available at the meeting).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details an application from Pure Innovations Ltd for a premises licence for the supply of alcohol on the premisesto be granted under the Licensing Act 2003 at Etherow Park Café, George Street, Comsptall.

The Sub-Committee is asked to consider the application for a Premises Licence to be granted at Etherow Park Café, George Street, Comsptall.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Sub-Committee to consider an application from Pure Innovations Ltd for a new premises licence to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003 at Etherow Park Café, George Street, Compstall to permit the supply of alcohol on the premises, Monday to Sunday between 11:00 and 22:00 hours.

The applicant attended the meeting and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the application.  At this stage in the proceedings, the applicant also informed the Sub-Committee that they would offer an amendment to their application such that the premises would operate a Challenge 25 age verification scheme.

The Sub-Committee noted that one objector to the application had informed the Licensing Authority that they did not intend to attend the hearing. A further objector, although duly notified of the date and time of the hearing, had not advised the Licensing Authority in advance of their intention to attend the hearing and nor had they attended the hearing in person.  The Sub-Committee therefore considered both representations on the basis of the written submission.

There were no objections made by any responsible authority.

The Sub-Committee, having heard the interested parties, proceeded to consider the licensing objectives in respect of the application, together with the relevant parts of the Council’s Licensing Policy and the guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.  However, the decision was reached on consideration of all the arguments given in relation to this specific application.

The Sub-Committee found the following:-

(i)        Crime and Disorder

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that no relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective.

(ii)        Protection of Children

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that no relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective.

(iii)       Public Safety

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that no relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective.

(iv)      Public Nuisance

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective, specifically the representations asserted that there were already problems within Etherow Country Park in relation to the misuse of alcohol and drugs and the granting of the application would serve to exacerbate this; and the granting of a premises licence would result in associated anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance.

However, the Sub-Committee noted that there was an absence of any objective evidence to substantiate the grounds of the objections, and nor had there been any representations made by any of the responsible authorities in relation to this matter.

The Sub-Committee also noted with approval the content of the applicant’s operating schedule and further noted that the applicant had offered to amend his operating schedule such that the premises would operate a Challenge 25 age verification scheme.

The Sub-Committee was therefore of the view that there were no further conditions that were both necessary and appropriate in order to address the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective.

It was then

RESOLVED – (1) That the hours for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises to be approved from 11:00 hours to 22:00 hours, Monday to Sunday.

(2) That the stated, standard opening hours be noted as from 09:00 hours to 22:00 hours, Monday to Sunday.

(3) That the content of the operating schedule submitted by the applicant be approved and adopted.

(4) That it be noted and approved that the applicant had amended their application such that the premises would operate a Challenge 25 age verification scheme.