Agenda and minutes

Resolved:           That Councillor Boyce be elected as Chair of the meeting.

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interests they may have in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of Licensing Hearing(s) held on 14^th February 2013 and 8^th April 2013.

Resolved:           That the minutes of the Licensing Hearings held on 14the February and 8^th April 2013 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members considered an application by Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC for a premises licence in respect of 5 Spurriergate, York.

In coming to their decision, Members took into consideration all of the evidence and submissions that were presented to them and determined their relevance to the issues raised and the licensing objectives.

The following were taken into account:

1.   The Application Form.

2.   The Licensing Managers report and her comments made at the hearing. She advised that the application was for a premises licence for a unit that had been previously used for retail but was not licensed. The premises are located in the Council’s special policy zone. She confirmed that consultation had been carried out correctly.

3.   The applicants representations made at the hearing. Members were  advised that Morrison’s was a responsible operator that had not had a single prosecution in the last 3 years relating to alcohol sales. There had been no objections from local residents or other responsible authorities. The main concern of North Yorkshire Police was the location of the premises in the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), but it was argued that convenience stores are not covered by the special policy. Morrison’s were reluctant accept some of the more stringent police conditions as detailed in a letter dated 8^th May which had been circulated to the Sub-Committee, although the majority had been agreed.

4.   Representations made at the hearing by North Yorkshire Police. Their Legal Representative advised that whether the premises are covered by the CIZ or not, the Police had genuine concerns relating to the hours of the store overlapping with other licensed premises in the area and the associated impact. The Police Inspector responsible for York City Centre also spoke to outline the problems faced by the Police including the theft of alcohol from nearby supermarkets and the issue of street drinkers and beggars using convenience stores.

The Sub-Committee were presented with the following options:

Option 1     Grant the Licence in the terms applied for.

Option 2     Grant the licence with modified/additional conditions imposed by the licensing committee.

Option 3     Grant the licence to exclude any of the licensable activities to which the application relates and modify/add conditions accordingly.

Option 4     Reject the application

Members chose Option 2 and granted the licence with the following conditions as agreed with North Yorkshire Police attached to the licence:

1.   A CCTV system will be installed to cover the premises and recorded coverage will include all areas to where public have access.

2.   The system will incorporate a camera covering each of the entrance doors and the main alcohol display area and will be capable of providing an image which is regarded as identification standard.

3.   The CCTV system will be maintained, working and recording at all times when the premises are open.

4.   The recordings shall be of good evidential quality to be produced in court or other such hearing.

5.   Copies of the recordings will be kept available for any responsible authority for 31  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.