To allow Members an opportunity to [a] declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in any items which appear on this agenda; and [b] record any items from which they are precluded from voting as a result of Council Tax/Council rent arrears; [c] the existence and nature of party whipping arrangements in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting. Members with a personal interest should declare that at the start of the item under consideration.  If Members also have a prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they must withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of the item.

Councillor Connolly disclosed a personal interest in the item of urgent business and therefore did not sit on this item. Councillor Jeavons replaced Councillor Connolly for this item only.

The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Chair had agreed to the inclusion of this application as an item of urgent business.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing regarding a Summary Review of the premises licence at Irish World Heritage Centre, 1 Irish Town Way, Manchester, M8 0AE.

The summary review was requested by GMP following an incident at the premises which took place on Sunday 13March 2022. The application was made under section 53(B) of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Hearing Panel considered the written papers, oral representations of all parties as well as the relevant legislation.

GMP addressed the Hearing Panel and gave details of the reasons for their review application, informing them that they received multiple calls on Sunday 13 March 2022 which stated that a large fight had broken out at the premises. One call referenced a group from the travelling community as being those fighting. Another call said that guns and knives had been mentioned. For this reason, GMP dispatched firearms control to the premises. GMP were informed that the group who had caused the fight had been on the premises for most of that day. During the incident, staff told GMP that they had hid in the kitchen. GMP informed the Hearing Panel that an elderly lady had been punched in the face. They requested that the Hearing Panel suspend the licence pending a full review due to concerns that further violence could occur. GMP then showed the Hearing Panel CCTV footage from the night in question. On the footage, chairs could be seen being thrown, a male had blood down their face and the elderly lady can be seen being hit.

The Premises Licence Holder’s (PLH) agent then addressed the Hearing Panel, stating that all involved with the Irish World Heritage Centre had accepted the incident was disgraceful. The agent stated that the PLH had taken the decision to close the site due to their concerns of further violence. It was known to the PLH that the group involved had been in Manchester for a family funeral. The PLH planned to be closed until after this funeral. The agent stated this showed that the PLH was showing responsibility and that they had learnt lessons. The agent informed the Hearing Panel that the PLH had always worked with GMP in the past. The PLH wanted to ensure that an incident such as this could not happen again and their agent informed the Hearing Panel of the steps they had taken, including mandatory training for staff and more door supervisors. The agent stated that the premises is a family friendly environment and the PLH wanted it to remain this way. The agent felt it to not be proportionate to suspend the licence due to the steps taken by the PLH.

GMP asked the PLH about a call they had received on St Patrick’s Day asking for them to eject people. The PLH stated this happened and thanked GMP for their response. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Hearing Panel were informed that all objections had been withdrawn and therefore no decision was necessary.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing regarding a new Premises Licence application.

The Hearing Panel considered the written papers and oral representations made by the Applicant as well as the relevant legislation and guidance.

The applicant addressed the Hearing Panel, informing them of their experience in the catering business. The applicant stated that this application was in response to requests from customers. Initial concerns had been raised that the premises would become a full beer garden. The applicant informed the Hearing Panel this would not be the case, the intention was to sell a small quantity of alcohol.

The Panel sought to clarify information in the application that stated the Council would tell the applicant how much to charge for products. The Panel informed the applicant that legally, this could not be the case. The Panel then requested further information on the type of alcohol that would be sold. The applicant stated that in the summer their intent was to sell items such as Pimms and Prosecco, and in the winter, it was their intent to sell items such as mulled wine.

The applicant summed up by stating that the objections of responsible authorities (GMP and Trading Standards) had been withdrawn following agreement on conditions. Objections remained from residents which centred on the licensing times and the transfer of the license in the future. The applicant was informed at this point that transferring the license would be their decision should it be granted.

In their deliberations, the Hearing Panel was satisfied that, based on the information in the application and given at the hearing, the applicants would uphold the licensing objectives. The Hearing Panel did not believe the objections to have enough merit to refuse the application.

Decision

To grant the application subject to the agreed conditions with the responsible authorities:

1. The premises shall install and maintain a comprehensive digital colour CCTV system. All public areas of the licensed premises, including all public entry and exit points and the street environment will be covered, enabling facial identification of every person entering in any light condition. The CCTV cameras shall continually record whilst the premises are open to the public and recording shall be kept available and unedited for a minimum of 28 days with the date and time stamping. A staff member who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system shall be present on the premises at all times when they are open to the public and must be able to produce/download/burn CCTV images upon request by a police officer or an authorised officer of the licensing authority. Any footage must be in a format so it can be played back on a standard personal computer or standard DVD player. Where the recording is on a removable medium (i.e., compact disc, flash card etc.), a secure storage system to store those recording mediums shall be provided.

2. An incident log (which may be electronically recorded) shall be kept  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Hearing Panel were informed that the applicant had requested this item to be deferred.

Decision

To defer the item until Tuesday 29 March 2022.