Agenda item

Report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection regarding an application by Mr Keith Downes, the Blues Bar and Bistro, for a Variation of a Premises Licence in respect of the above premises as follows:

A petition in objection to the application had been received and this necessitated a hearing for which the Sub-Committee had been convened.

The Sub-Committee heard representations from:

·       Mr Keith Downes (applicant), in support of his application

·       Two local residents objecting to the application.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held remotely.

At the end of their representations each of the interested parties confirmed that they were satisfied that they had said all they wished to say.

The Sub-Committee retired under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act (Hearings) Regulations 2005 (as amended) and thereby excluded the press and public whilst they reached their decision on the application. The Sub-Committee returned to give their decision in public.

Decision

RESOLVED: That

The application for a Variation of the Premises Licence of Blues Bar and Bistro, 19-23 Moor Lane, Crosby, L23 2SE be granted as follows:

Licensable activities applied for:

Reasons:

The Sub-Committee has heard representations from the Applicant, Mr Downes.

The Sub-Committee has also heard objections from the interested parties and has considered the petition received from local residents objecting to the application.

The Sub-Committee is cognisant that no representations were received from any of the responsible Authorities such as the Council’s Environmental Health Department and that the conditions put forward by Merseyside Police have been agreed.

Whilst the Sub-Committee has sympathy for the residents’ concerns regarding anti-social behaviour in the area, it has not heard or seen any evidence that can be attributed to this premises.

The Sub-Committee is satisfied that the applicant has sufficient knowledge and experience of the licensing trade and has evidenced his respect for local residents and the community in attempts to engage with the interested parties and making suggestions for collaborative working as a community in the future.

The Sub-Committee is pleased to note this and hopes that this will continue.

The Sub-Committee also welcomes the fact that the applicant has reduced the hours that recorded music would be played until 02:00am on a Friday and Saturday.

The Sub-Committee wishes to remind the residents/interested parties that they have the right to request a Review of the Premises Licence should their concerns come to fruition.