Agenda and draft minutes

The Licensing Panel considered the appointment of a Chairman for the meeting.

Resolved:

That Councillor D Scott be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:-

(1) the type of interest concerned

(2) the nature of the interest concerned; and

(3) whether they have or have not sat on a Planning Committee which has previously considered a planning application in respect of a licensed premises which is also subject to consideration for a premises licence as part of the agenda for this meeting.

If any Member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Chairman of the Panel will summarise the procedure and announce the equal maximum amount of time for each party to speak for the hearing.

A.         Items 1 and 4 (b) will be undertaken in private session by the Panel and not in the Meeting Room.

B.         Items 2, 3 and 4(a) will be recommended to the Panel to be held in public.

C.         The Panel may decide to exclude the public from all or part of a hearing where it considers that the public interest in so doing outweighs the public interest in the hearing, or that part of the hearing, taking place in public. (This includes a party and any person assisting or representing a party)

The Chairman explained the procedure for the meeting including that an equal time limit of twenty-five minutes had been allocated for all parties.

To consider a new application for a Premises Licence for 83 – 85 Bond Street, FY4 1BW.

A.      Application and representations submitted. To consider the attached   report.

B.       Determination of the new Premises application

The Licensing Panel will indicate how the decision is to be communicated to interested parties.

The Licensing Panel considered an application for a new Premises Licence for Premier, 83-85 Bond Street on behalf of Uma Nanthiny Agilan. The application sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between the hours of 8.00 and 23.00 Monday to Sunday.

The Licensing Panel noted that the applicant had volunteered a number of conditions which were listed in the application at Appendix 4a to the agenda.

The Licensing Panel also noted that as per paragraph 6.4 that the proposed premises fell within the area covered by the Off Licence Cumulative Impact Assessment.

Mr Mark Marshall on behalf of the applicant, Ms Uma Nanthiny Agilan, presented the application. Mr Marshall highlighted that the applicant currently operated a nearby premises but had issues there with their landlord. The intention of the applicant had been therefore to relocate their store and effectively operate the same business in the new location. The applicant agreed that they would surrender the licence for the other premises. The current premises operated by the applicant were run well and no issues had been caused to the responsible authorities. Mr Marshall urged the Licensing Panel to consider the granting of the Premises Licence in this would be a reasonable exception to the Licensing Authority’s Cumulative Impact Policy as it effectively would be the relocation of an existing well run business.

PC Guy Harrison was in attendance and presented the objection on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary. PC Harrison higlighted the existing issues in the area caused by the large number of licensed premises and the high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour. Pc Harrison emphasised her concern regarding the Cumulative Impact Policy and the potential precedent for the opening of new premises. While PC Harrison confirmed that there were no issues with the applicant- the Police’s remained that the area of Bond Street was a very challenging one to operate an off-licence.

The Licensing Panel considered carefully the evidence submitted by both parties.

Given the conditions already by the applicant, the applicant’s previous exemplary operation of a premises within a challenging environment along with their undertaking to surrender their existing licence. The Licensing Panel considered that the application should be granted as an exception to the Cumulative Impact Policy on the grounds that it would be the relocation of an existing premises.

Resolved:

That the application for a new Premises Licence in respect of Premier, 83-85 Bond Street be granted as applied for and subject to the conditions agreed by the applicant.