The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licencing is attached.

The Committee heard from the applicant as to their investment into the refurbishment of the premises and that it will operate as a general convenience store to cater for the needs of the local community with only approximately 10% being alcohol provision and it is not simply an off licence.

The Committee also heard details of the applicant’s training and were provided with a comprehensive training and operating manual that will be in use at the premises to ensure compliance with the licensing objectives and conditions on the licence if granted. The Committee also noted that a large number of conditions had been proposed and agreed to address any potential issues at the premises.

Licensing and Out of Hours (LOOH) attended the meeting and confirmed that agreement had been reached on a number of further conditions to prevent any potential public nuisance. The applicant provided an updated proposed operating schedule to include the agreements made with LOOH.

The Committee also heard from the Neighbourhood Team Lead in attendance that she welcomed the investment into the area however did have concerns over litter and waste disposal from the premises and the current problems in the area that could be exacerbated by a further premises selling alcohol. She requested the applicant work with local groups including a local traders association and the applicant stated they were willing to do this. The applicant also gave details of their intended commercial waste disposal contracts and litter bins that would be available and regular checks that would be made.

The Committee carefully considered the written representations from the resident objectors, none of whom were in attendance. The Committee understood some of the concerns of the resident objectors however noted that some of these related to planning matters which they could not consider and that some of the concerns related to problems with other premises in the area. The Committee were of the view that with the comments of the applicant as to the nature of the business intending to operate, the conditions in their operating schedule and the additional conditions agreed that these concerns had been appropriately addressed. The Committee also agreed with the comments of the applicant that issues relating to parking concerns and comments that there were already enough outlets selling alcohol were not relevant to their considerations and were issues to be addressed in any planning application.

The Committee also accepted that there had been no representations from GMP or any of the other Responsible Authorities which supported the view that they had no concerns that the applicant would undermine the licensing objectives if the application was granted. Whilst there was concerns raised by the local residents as to crime and anti-social behaviour the Committee accepted that these were speculative in the main rather than being linked directly to the applicant or application and were not supported by any representation from GMP.  The Committee also heard that the applicant has been in communication with GMP prior to submitting the application and they had confirmed they had no concerns.

The Committee did consider whether it may be appropriate to reduce the hours on a Friday and Saturday to 11pm and the one objector in attendance did state when questioned this may assist with concerns however the Committee noted that none of the representations directly raised concerns as to the opening hours on a Friday and Saturday or of it being a problem time in the area and that it was not appropriate to reduce the hours.

Taking all of the representations into account the Committee were satisfied that the applicant was a responsible operator and that the licensing objectives’ would be upheld if the licence was granted with the updated schedule of conditions as agreed with Licensing and Out of Hours.

Decision

To grant the application subject to the amended operating schedule of conditions as agreed with Licensing and Out of Hours