Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting 26 Feburary 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2024 were approved as 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 of interest were made

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).

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters in the powers or duties of the Sub-Committee, subject to the exclusions set out within the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of the application, as appendices to the report contain information ‘not for publication’ in accordance with Section 14(2) of The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, and where the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs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 Application to Vary the Premises Licence at Vendees Local, 103 Wellington Road South, SK1 3TH, which had been classified as ‘not for publication’ by virtue of it containing material which related to an individual, the Sub Committee was satisfied that in the circumstances it was not necessary for the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.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report details an application from Vendees Local Ltd to vary the premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 at Vendees Local Ltd, 103 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3TH.

The Sub-Committee is recommended to determine the application to vary the premises license from Vendees Local Ltd. in respect of Vendees Local Ltd, 103 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3TH.

Officer Contact: Sarah Tooth on 0161 474 4176 or sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application from Vendees Local Ltd. for a variation of the premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 at Vendees Local Ltd, 103 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3TH, which sought the following licensable activities:

·         Sale of alcohol (off the premises) 24 hours Monday to Sunday.

·         Provision of Late Night Refreshments 23:00 hours to 05:00 hours Monday to Sunday.

·         The application also proposed to remove and replace the existing conditions with more appropriate conditions.

The applicant and their representative attended the meeting, presented their application, and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the application.

A representative of the Director of Public Health, having previously submitted a written representation in relation to the application also attended the meeting, explained their objections to the proposals and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the application.

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 guidance from the Home Office. 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 relevant representations had been received in respect of the prevention of Crime and Disorder licensing objective, specifically the representations asserted that the granting of the variation would:-

·         Potentially increase violent crime due to the link between alcohol and violent crime in areas experiencing depravation, as raised by Public Health.

(ii)          Protection of Children from Harm

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that relevant representations had been received in respect of the Protection of Children from Harm licensing objective, specifically the representations asserted that the granting of the variation would:-

·         Create an attractive place for underage students at the nearby college to attempt buy alcohol illegally.

·         Increase the risk of proxy sales due to the proposed use of a night hatch.

(iii)         Public Safety

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

(iv)         The Prevention of Public Nuisance

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that relevant representations had been received in respect of the Prevention of Public Nuisance licensing objective, specifically the representations asserted that the granting of the variation would:-

·         Increase the number of people congregating outside the shop, leading to an increased level of noise.

·         Increase light pollution in the area.

·         Increase the number of people littering in vicinity of the premises.

However, the Sub-Committee noted with approval the content of the applicant’s application and submissions made. The Sub-Committee were satisfied that the application complied with the licensing objectives, when considered in conjunction with the proposed additional steps provided for within the applicant’s application.

It was then

RESOLVED –

(1)  That approval be given to the hours for the supply of alcohol off the premises as follows:

·         24 hours (Monday to Sunday).

(2)  That approval be given to the hours for the provision of late night refreshments as follows:

·         23:00 hours to 05:00 hours (Monday to Sunday).

(3)  That the proposed variation on the conditions of the license be adopted with the following amendment:

·         The condition in relation to public safety licensing objective will be amended as follows:

The proposed extra step in the application reads “All Transactions will take place via a hatch and night pay window which is covered directly by CCTV”.

The condition that will be placed on the license will state “All Transactions will be take place via a lit hatch and night pay window which is covered directly by CCTV”. All other proposed steps within the application will be conditions of the license, as submitted.

The meeting closed at 12:41.