Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on the 24 August 2023 having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

 

The Sub-Committee met to determine an application made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 by Alliance Property Holding Limited for a premises licence for Martins, 36 Bechers, Widnes, WA8 4TE (“the Premises”).  The hearing was held in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 and Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.

 

PREAMBLE

 

The hearing was held as relevant representations had been received from two local residents, Ms Charline Wolsstencroft and Mr Majdi Ibrahim Rhuma (“the objectors”), who had objected to the application predominantly on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, although public nuisance and the protection of children from harm also appeared in issue.

 

The Applicant’s Area Manager, Matthew Griffiths, was in attendance and was represented by their Solicitor, Mr Alex Green of Gosschalks LLP.

 

The objectors did not attend and no notice had been received from either of them indicating their attendance. The Sub-Committee therefore took legal advice on whether the hearing could proceed in their absence and the Sub-Committee’s attention was drawn to Regulation 20(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 (“the Regulations”). After hearing from Ms Hesketh and Mr Green, the Sub-Committee were satisfied that notice of the hearing had been properly served on the objectors on 31 October 2023, in accordance with Regulations 6 and 7 and it did not consider it was in the public interest to adjourn the hearing. On that basis, the Sub-Committee resolved to hear the application in the objectors’ absence.

 

It was agreed that Ms Hesketh would read out the objectors’ relevant representations during the hearing.

 

DETERMINATION

 

The Sub-Committee has considered the application, the relevant representations and the applicant’s oral submissions given at the hearing.

 

In reaching its decision, the sub-committee also took into consideration the Licensing Objectives as well as the revised statutory guidance issued under section 182 of the Act (“the statutory guidance”), the relevant case law and Council’s own statement of Licensing Policy.

 

The Sub-Committee resolved to grant the application subject to the hours and the conditions below:-

 

HOURS

 

Supply of Alcohol (off premises)

Monday – Sunday

06:00 – 23:00 hours

 

CONDITIONS

 

a)    Operating Schedule

 

1.    CCTV shall be provided on the premises and shall be kept in good working order.

 

2.    All staff engaged in the sale of alcohol will be trained in accordance with the premises licence holder’s training procedures.

 

3.    All staff engaged in the sale of alcohol will receive suitable training (including refresher training) in relation to the proof of age “Challenge 25” scheme to be applied on the premises. The following forms of identification are acceptable: photo driving licence, passport, proof of age standards scheme (PASS) card and Military ID and any other locally or nationally approved form of identification.

 

4.    All checkout operators will operate a refusal log.

 

5.    The premises licence holder undertakes ongoing risk assessments in order to comply with Health and Safety Legislation.

 

6.    Till prompts are in use at the store.  

 

Police Conditions

 

The operating schedule makes reference to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.