Agenda and minutes

Councillor Randle was elected Chair of the meeting.

The Chair introduced the Members of the Sub-Committee and officers in attendance and invited the Applicant and Constabulary representatives to introduce themselves. The Chair explained the procedures that would be followed during the meeting which were also summarised in Appendix 6 to the report.

In addition to the Members of the Sub-Committee and Council officers in attendance, the following were present:

Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd

Clare Johnson, Partner, Grosschalks Solicitors,

Kelly Nichols, Licensing Manager

Simon Lambert, Loss Prevention Manager

Gloucestershire Constabulary

Paul Trott, Solicitor

Inspector Steve Wood, Gloucester Licensing Inspector

PC Andrew Cook, Licensing Manager

David McFarlane, Senior Harm Prevention Officer

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

No declarations were made on this occasion.

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented a report detailing an application by Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd in respect of Morrisons, Metz Way, Gloucester GL4 4RT under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 to which a representation had been made by Gloucestershire Constabulary.

The application was for the retail sale of alcohol (off sales only) Monday to Sunday (inclusive) from 06.00 to Midnight.

Details of the application were contained in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Sub-Committee had also received the following information –

A plan showing the layout of the premises – Appendix 2

A map showing the location of the premises – Appendix 3

Copy of a representation from Gloucestershire Constabulary – Appendix 4

Morrison’s response to undertake security to a certain level during a trial period whilst risk assessment is carried out – Appendix 5

Procedure to be followed at the hearing - Appendix 6

Mandatory conditions to be attached to any licence granted – Appendix 7

Late information comprising a statement by Inspector Wood, crime statistics and map together with further correspondence between the Constabulary and Morrisons had been circulated.

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer referred Members to Appendix 4, the representation from Gloucestershire Constabulary and the late material which had been circulated.

She summarised the application and referred Members to the relevant sections of the City Council’s Licensing Policy Statement.

Members were advised that having considered the application, any relevant representations, the legislative provisions, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the Home Secretary’s Guidance, they had the following options as considered appropriate and proportionate to the promotion of the licensing objectives:-

(a)       To accept the application and attach conditions as consistent with the operating schedule.

(b)       To accept the application and modify the conditions of the licence which includes altering, omitting or adding new conditions. 

(c)        To reject the whole or part of the application.

Members were reminded of the statutory licensing objectives:-

(i)         The prevention of crime and disorder

(ii)        Public safety

(iii)       The prevention of public nuisance

(iv)       The protection of children from harm

There were no questions of the Officer.

Statement by the Applicant

Clare Johnson, for the Applicant, advised Members that Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd operated over 500 stores and had extensive experience in retail sale of alcohol. Compliance with the law was not an aspiration but viewed as essential by the Company who had not been the subject of a single review or prosecution in the last 3½ years that Ms Johnson had represented the company despite operating in some densely populated and highly challenging areas.

She outlined the measures proposed in the operating schedule and observed that no objection or representations had been received from the public, Councillors, the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health or Child Protection Officers. She noted that the sole issue before the Sub-Committee was the regulation of the number of security guards to be required.

Ms Johnson advised that she had met with the Police to discuss the matter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.