Agenda and draft minutes

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

Resolved:

That Councillor Hutton 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.

(Members are asked to also pay particular attention to the guidance sheet on interests supplied with the agenda).

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Licensing Panel considered excluding the public and press from the meeting due to the information likely to be disclosed. It noted that the information submitted in representations contained personal information and details of convictions and other intelligence from the Police.

The Licensing Panel balanced the public interest with a range of other factors and concluded that the public interest would be best served by excluding the public and press from Agenda Item 4- New Premises Licence Lo-Cal Cook House.

The Chairman explained the procedure for the meeting, including the order in which representations would be received from relevant parties and that an equal time limit of twenty minutes had been allcated for both parties.

To consider an application in respect of a new Premises Licence for Lo-Cal Cookhouse, 316A Church Street

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

B. Determination of the application for a new Premises Licence – Lo-Cal Cookhouse, 316A Church Street

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 in respect of the Lo-Cal Cookhouse, 316a Church Street. The application was for a restaurant and requested the sale of alcohol 16.00 to 23.00 Monday to Friday and 12.00 to 23.00 Saturday and Sunday for consumption on or off the premises.

The applicant was in attendance represented by Ms D Rushton, Proposed Designated Premises Supervisor, and Mr J Mitchell, Company Director. Ms Rushton highlighted that the application remained a relative modest one adding the sale of alcohol to an already open restaurant which had traded successfully for the past few years. It was intended that the sale of alcohol would not represent a significant portion of sales but would be ancillary to food and the licence would provide more flexibility for the business. Mr Rushton emphasised that she had a significant amount of hospitality experience including as a Designated Premises Supervisor. Mr Mitchell then spoke in response to the Police’s objection regarding the Directors of the company- he emphasised that while he had committed offences these were historic and of limited relevance. Mr Mitchell strongly disputed the police’s submission that himself and the other directors remained involved in any activities that would undermine the Licensing Objectives.

PC Guy Harrison and PC Emma Pritchard presented evidence on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary in objection to the licence application. PC Harrison highlighted that in respect of the application the police had significant concerns regarding all three directors of the company. The three directors had convictions for a number of offences and while some were historic they were of relevance to the Panel as they involved relevant offences under the Licensing Act. The Police also had recent intelligence that linked those involved in the premises to ongoing investigations regarding serious criminal activity.

The Licensing Panel considered carefully the evidence of both parties and the Licensing Objectives. It considered that on balance based on the police’s evidence of potential ongoing links to criminality the granting of the licence would not promote the Licensing Objectives notably the Prevention of Crime and Disorder.

Resolved:

That the application for a Premises Licence in respect of Lo-Cal Cookhouse, 316A Church Street be refused.