Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2023.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 11 January 2023 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.

Personal interest

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).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 5 ‘Application for a Premises Licence to be granted at Hops & Crops, 72 Stockport Road, Marple, SK6 6AH’, as appendices to the report contain information ‘not for publication’ in accordance with Section 14(2) of The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, and where the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs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 for a premises licence to be granted at Hops & Crops, 72 Stockport Road, Marple, Stockport, SK6 6AH’, which had been classified as ‘not for publication’ by virtue of it containing material which related to an individual, the Sub Committee was satisfied that in the circumstances it was not necessary for the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 Hops & Crops Ltd for a premises licence to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003 at Hops & Crops, 72 Stockport Road, Marple, Stockport, SK6 6AH.

The Sub Committee is requested to determine the application for a premises licence in respect of Hops & Crops, 72 Stockport Road, Marple, Stockport, SK6 6AH.

Officer contact: Sarah Tooth 07800618213 | sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application from Hops & Crops Ltd for a premises licence to be granted at Hops & Crops, 72 Stockport Road, Marple, Stockport, SK6 6AH, to enable the sale of alcohol, (on and off the premises):

·         Monday to Thursday, 11:00 – 23:00 hours;

·         Friday, 11:00 – 00:00 hours;

·         Saturday, 10:00 – 00:00 hours; and

·         Sunday, 12:00 – 22:30 hours.

The applicants attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the application.

Objectors to the proposal, having previously submitted written representations in relation to the application, also attended the meeting to give explanation to the objections and answer 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 Stockport Council’s Licensing Policy. The decision was then 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 raised concerns in relation to the potential for noise disturbance created by patrons in the rear external area of the premises within a residential location at night.

The Sub Committee noted the applicant’s measures to address these concerns, but felt that these would not sufficiently mitigate the disturbance at unsociable hours. In order to suitably mitigate the concerns raised in relation to the ‘prevention of public nuisance’ licensing objective, the Sub Committee agreed to grant the application with a number of conditions imposed relating to hours of sale of alcohol and the emptying of glass bottle recycling, as well as the installation of fencing.

Further, the Sub Committee encouraged the exchange of contact telephone numbers and the holding of quarterly meetings (or as often as necessary), between the premises licence holders and local residents to address any concerns.

It was then

RESOLVED – (1) That the hours for the sale of alcohol, on and off the premises be approved as follows:

·         Monday to Thursday, 11:00 – 23:00 hours;

·         Friday, 11:00 – 00:00 hours;

·         Saturday, 10:00 – 00:00 hours; and

·         Sunday, 12:00 – 22:30 hours.

(2) Patrons shall not be permitted to take alcoholic beverages into the rear external area and the area shall be cleared of such beverages by 21.00 hours, Sunday to Thursday and by 21.30 hours on Friday and Saturday.

(3) That the rear external doors be self-closing and that the rear doors be kept shut (save for access and egress) in accordance with the above times.

(4) That fencing be installed at the rear to negate noise concerns.

(5) That the applicant be strongly advised to consider the installation of acoustic boards.

(6) That there be no emptying of glass bottle recycling between 22:00 – 8:00 hours.