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

The Hearing Panel were informed that all representations received had been agreed and withdrawn, and therefore no decision was necessary.

Now contains additional information submitted by the applicant’s agent.

The Hearing Panel considered a report from the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing.  The Hearing Panel also considered the written papers of the parties submitted and the oral representations of the parties who attended as well as the relevant legislation.

The Hearing Panel were informed that the applicant had indicated prior to the hearing that they would not be attending but was happy for it to proceed in their absence.

GMP addressed the panel, noting that the premises operated as a barber shop, with the intention to become an Off Licence. The applicant for the Off Licence was the same person who ran the barber shop. GMP did note that the applicant had offered amended hours for alcohol sales. GMP and LOOH visited the premises on 13 March 2023 to discuss the application with the applicant. From the visit, concerns were raised that the applicant’s knowledge regarding the Licensing Objectives was weak, with little knowledge of what was written in the applicant that they had signed. The applicant had no knowledge of the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and no knowledge of Proxy Sales. The applicant had been unable to inform GMP how they would prevent a drunk person entering the premises and why they would not employ SIA staff at night. GMP informed the panel that they had no confidence in the applicant to uphold the Licensing Objectives and therefore requested the application be refused.

The panel were concerned that the application had been copied and pasted from a different application, containing reference to things that were not relevant to this application. GMP agreed with those concerns.

The panel questioned if the premises would remain a barber shop if the application was granted, if the sales from the Off Licence would be purely alcohol and when the applicant completed the course to hold a Personal Licence. GMP stated that the plan was for this premises to become an Off Licence only. There was an empty premises on the same road that the applicant intended to acquire and convert to a barber shop. GMP noted the applicant wanted to sell alcohol from 11am and confectionary type goods from 7am. GMP were unsure when the applicant had completed the course but had concerns that the applicant had demonstrated their limited knowledge on basic information that would have formed part of that course.

GMP summed up by stating that they had no confidence in the applicant to uphold the Licensing Objectives.

In their deliberations, the panel agreed with GMP that they had no confidence in the applicant to uphold the Licensing Objectives. The panel raised further concerns that the application itself did not seem appropriate for the intentions of the premises. The panel had concerns that, from GMP’s visit, it was clear that the applicant did not have the knowledge required to run a licensed premises, particularly in regards to Proxy sales.

Decision

To refuse the application.