Agenda and minutes

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

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were 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 11^th August 2014 and 15^th September 2014.

Resolved:           That the minutes of the Licensing Hearings held on 11^th August and 15^th September 2014 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members considered an application by Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd for a premises licence in respect of the former Groves Chapel, Clarence Street/Union Terrace York.

In coming to their decision, Members took into consideration all

of the evidence and the 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 Sainsbury’s at the former Groves Chapel. In respect of comments made by representors at the outset of the hearing in relation to the site notice she advised that she was satisfied that consultation had been carried out correctly in accordance with all statutory requirements. North Yorkshire Police had agreed a number of conditions with the applicant as set out in the agenda papers.

3.   The applicants solicitors comments made at the hearing. He advised that the application was for a premises licence at the former Groves Chapel and the applicant was aware of the sensitivity of the application. He reminded those present that at this stage Sainsbury’s were not seeking planning permission to open a store, just a licence to sell alcohol should all other aspects such as planning permission for the site be granted in the future. He referred to Sainsbury’s rigorous staff training policies, in particular the Challenge 25 policy to ask people who appear to be younger than 25 for identification when purchasing alcohol. He was aware of street drinking problems in the area and felt that the conditions requested by North Yorkshire Police addressed the issue sufficiently. Street drinkers are attracted to the cheapest and highest strength ciders and beers and these will not be sold at the store. In addition the building is currently disused so occupation of the site would discourage street drinkers to congregate on the frontage.

4.   The representations made in writing and at the hearing by a number of local residents. They advised that the site is located within a ‘no alcohol zone’ and there already 5 other off licences in the area. They were concerned that it would be irresponsible to allow another retail outlet for alcohol within a short distance from an alcohol rehabilitation centre.  Photographs showing alcohol containers and street drinkers in the area were tabled with agreement of the applicant to highlight the problems of anti-social behaviour in the area involving alcohol. Concerns were also raised that security arrangements at the store would not be adequate to protect staff and customers should it be allowed go ahead and reference was made to planning issues.

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.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.