Agenda and minutes

Councillor Clarke was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Westley. Councillor Naylor was present in his absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest made.

The Director of Environmental Services submits a report on an application for a new premises licence within a cumulative impact zone, Kings News, 11 King Street, Leicester LE1 6RN.

Report attached. A copy of the associated documentation is attached for Members only. Further copies are available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Democratic Support on 454 6358.

The Director, Environmental Services, submitted a report that required Members to determine an application for a new premises licence within a Cumulative Impact Zone for Kings News, 11 King Street, Leicester, LE1 6RN.

Members noted that a representation had been received in respect of the application, which necessitated that the application for a new premises licence had to be considered by Members.

Mr Junaid Ikleriya (Designated Premises Supervisor / Premises Licence Holder), and Ms Jo Taylor (Licensing Consultants for the applicant) were present at the meeting. Also present was PC Jon Webb from Leicestershire Police, who had made a representation. Also present were the Licensing Team Manager and Solicitor to the hearing panel.

The Licensing Team Manager presented the report. Colour photographs of the exterior of the premises were circulated to all those present at the meeting. It was noted that the representation from Leicestershire Police was made on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, and public safety. The representation referred to the Local Policy on Cumulative Impact for the Belvoir Street Gate area, introduced by Leicester City Council in February 2011, which created a rebuttable presumption that an application for new licences would be refused. The Licensing Team Manager said that some of the conditions requested by the Police were superseded by those proposed by the applicant.

PC Webb on behalf of the Police outlined the reasons for the representation and answered questions from Members:

·         PC Webb referred to the representation attached to the report.

·         The Police had had dialogue with the applicant, and the CIZ was referred to in the application.

·         The convenience store was near to bars and clubs that were open up to and past 2.00am.

·         There were no other off-sales premises in the area that sold alcohol up to 2.00am.

·         There were pre-loading and side-loading issues in the city centre, and the police were concerned that discarded empty bottles could be used as weapons.

·         It was expected that purchased alcohol would be drunk on the streets which were covered by the street drinking ban.

·         The Police reported on the level of incidents in the area, and the extra police resources required in the area.

·         The applicant had taken the Police’s concerns seriously and had employed a registered SIA door person in connection with his current licence for late night refreshment, but it would not prevent people drinking on the streets.

·         The police had requested that no sale of alcohol take place until 07.00 hours to prevent those leaving clubs and bars a 06.00 hours from purchasing alcohol.

·         The police asked that the terminal hour for the sale of alcohol should be 23.30 hours, to be accompanied by signage to inform customers, and prevent disturbances in the shop.

·         The Police had not recommended refusal of the application, as they believed that the sale of alcohol from the premises during the daytime was not a cause for concern.

·         There was one other premises in the area with off-sales during  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The meeting closed at 10.40am.