To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

To consider an application for a new Premises Licence in respect of ’59 Commercial Road, Hereford, HR1 2BP.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence at 59 Commercial Road, Hereford.

The Chairman read out the guidance note and asked all parties to introduce themselves. He also heard any requests for an extension to the 10 minutes permitted for parties to make their representation. A request to extend the time was made by the applicant’s advisor and this was granted by the Sub-Committee.

The Licensing Manager presented the report and drew Members’ attention to two of the stated cases referred to within it, namely Luminar Leisure v Wakefield Magistrates Court and JD Wetherspoon PLC v Guildford Borough Council.

The Committee heard representations from Mr Mooney and Inspector Sempler, both representing West Mercia Police, who had objected to the application. They advised the Sub-Committee that the application was within the Council’s designated Cumulative Impact Zone and that there was a rebuttable presumption against new applications within this area. They produced crime and disorder statistics to support their case as well as giving the Sub-Committee detailed information regarding the Police shift patterns and their ability to police the area effectively.

Members were advised that there were currently 4 takeaways licenced until 1:30 am as well as 2 sandwich shops which generally remained open until 4:00 am all within the Cumulative Impact Zone.

The Sub-Committee were also requested to consider Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 when making their decision.

The Sub-Committee also heard from Mr Spriggs, the Licensing Officer who had also objected to the application. During his statement Mr Spriggs also called upon Mr Neades, the premises licence holder for Yates’. Mr Spriggs objected to the application due to its location within the Cumulative Impact Zone. He advised that the proposed location for the takeaway was near to the premises which had led to the Cumulative Impact Zone being introduced by the Council. This premises used to be a hotspot for late night disorder. He drew Members’ attention to a photograph within their agenda pack which showed the queue for Yates’, this queue went directly in front of the door of 59 Commercial Road and Members were advised that this could cause issues for people wishing to access the takeaway. He noted that the applicant had not offered any explanation as to why the application should be accepted as an exception to the policy. He therefore requested that the application be refused.

Mrs Pillinger, the applicant’s legal advisor, addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the application. She advised Members that the applicant had requested a terminal hour of 1:30 am in line with other hot food premises in the vicinity. She added that no alcohol would be sold or consumed on the premises and that there would be no additional impact on the Cumulative Impact Zone as a result of the application being granted. She produced statistics from the Police website which indicated that disorder in the area was low although this data was disputed by the Police representatives.

Mrs Pillinger  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.