(Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

In the interest of transparency Councillor Cunningham disclosed that he lived in the Saltaire area; he was not representing that ward and he had no interest other than residing in the area.  He remained in the meeting during consideration and voting on the application.

Action: Director of Legal and Governance

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

The Assistant Director Waste, Fleet and Transport Services will present a report (Document “N”) which outlines an application for variation to extend permitted hours for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises in respect of for Bargain Booze Plus, 59-61 Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3JN.

Recommended –

Members are invited to consider the information and documents referred to in the report (Document “N”) and, after hearing interested parties, determine the related application.

(Melanie McGurk – 01274 431873)

The Assistant Director Waste, Fleet and Transport Services presented a report (Document “N”) which outlined an application for variation to extend permitted hours for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises at Bargain Booze Plus, 59-61 Saltaire Road, Shipley BD18 3JN.

Members were advised that there had been 21 representations received, including two from Ward Councillors, which raised concerns of noise from customers congregating in the area and anti-social behaviour around the shop.  There were also concerns regarding criminal behaviour and criminal damage to cars and property, litter problems and broken glass in the area.  Details of all representations were appended to the report.

The applicant’s representative addressed the meeting and explained that the business had changed hands and was now a small convenience store selling groceries.  His client was a director of the new company which had been incorporated in June 2022.  It had previously sold alcohol at discount prices but had changed direction since the new ownership and was now called Saltaire Mini Market.   To demonstrate the new operating model photographs had been provided to show that it was now a well-stocked grocery store selling everyday goods, chilled wine, beer and spirits.

It was maintained by the applicant’s representative that it was for the applicant to demonstrate that he was capable of promoting the licensing objectives and for those making representations to show that the premises would undermine those objectives.  He believed that there was not one shred of evidence which challenged or criticised the operation and that the application could only be rejected if evidence to the contrary was presented. 

It was further maintained that the application had not received any representations from responsible authorities which the applicant’s representative concluded that those expert bodies believed that the application did not undermine the licensing objectives and that the applicant was capable of promoting those objectives.

Crime statistics presented for the area were discussed and it was maintained that these were steady or declining. 

A local resident had provided statistics for a wider area and it was stressed that there was no evidence to show crimes depicted were attributable to alcohol or alcohol provided by the applicant business and a suggestion that there was anti-social behaviour in the district was not supported.

It was explained that the proposed night hatch was be used to serve customers at night time only.  He reported that hatches were used effectively at other premises operated by the applicant company in the Halifax and Bingley areas.

Reassurances were provided by the applicant’s representative that the applicant understood the concerns of residents about issues which might occur and that he was happy to accept conditions to ensure transactions took place inside of the store.  The applicant had no intention to sell alcohol irresponsibly and wished to be an asset to the local community.  He would consider any conditions which the Panel felt appropriate.

In responding to questions from Panel members the location of the proposed serving hatch was reported and confirmed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.