7 September 2026 - Draft Minutes
North Ayrshire Council · 7 September 2026
Back to North Ayrshire Licensing Board — 7 September 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Page 1 of 4 DRAFT North Ayrshire Licensing Board 7 September 2026 This Minute is published in draft a few days after the Meeting to which it related. It should be regarded as provisional until it has been approved, with or without revisals, by the Licensing Board at a future meeting. Irvine, 7 September 2026 - At a meeting of the North Ayrshire Licensing Board at 10.00 am in the Council Chambers, Cunninghame House, Irvine. Present Councillors Nairn Angus-McDonald (Vice Convenor), Cameron Inglis, Christina Larsen, Matthew McLean, Donald L Reid and Ronnie Stalker In Attendance R Lynch, Clerk, D Grier, Solicitor (Legal Services), C Pollock, Licensing Manager, and M Champion, Administration Officer (Licensing). Also In Attendance Police Constable Guy Jenner (Police Scotland) and Scott McLelland (Team Manager, Building Standards). Convenor Councillor Nairn Angus-McDonald. Apologies for Absence Councillors Eleanor Collier, John Bell and Angela Stephen. 1. Declarations of Interest There were no Declarations of Interest. 2. Minutes The Board were asked to confirm the Minutes of the Board meeting held on 12 August 2026. The Board unanimously agreed to confirm and adopt the Minutes. 3. Chief Constable's Annual Report - Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, Section 12A for year to 31 March 2026 Police Constable Guy Jenner, Police Scotland, read out the Chief Constable's Annual Report for the year to 31 March 2026. The Board noted the report and thanked Police Scotland. 4. Licences and Applications under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 The Board considered a report by the Clerk to the Licensing Board on a matter under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. The report, on this occasion, contained one Appendix: A. Premises Licence applications or any other applications requiring a Hearing. The Licensing Board agreed to dispose of the matter as follows;
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Page 2 of 4 A.1 Premises Licence 0224 - The Paddle Steamer, 1 The Promenade, Largs The Board resumed consideration of an application by J D Wetherspoon (Scot) Limited for a major variation of the Premises Licence, continued from 8 June 2026. The application sought to add off-sales from 11.00 am to 10.00 pm daily, permit children and young persons until 11.00 pm daily, and increase the occupant capacity from 225 to 390. At the hearing, the applicant amended the proposed capacity to 300. The applicant was represented by Stephen McGowan, Solicitor, of TLT LLP, who was joined by Stewart Dumbreck, Local Area Manager, and Ryan Gallacher, Designated Premises Manager. The Board heard from the applicant's representatives and considered the application and supporting material; the Licensing Standards Officer's report, which was taken as read in his absence; the representation from Police Scotland; the submissions from Building Standards; the objections from Largs Community Council and Councillor Ian Murdoch; and the responses to Members' questions. Following an adjournment, Councillor Christina Larsen, seconded by Councillor Ronnie Stalker, moved that the Board grant the addition of off-sales from 11.00 am to 10.00 pm daily and access for children and young persons until 11.00 pm daily, but refuse the proposed increase in occupant capacity from 225 to 300. The Motion was carried. The capacity increase was refused on the basis that it would be inconsistent with the licensing objective of securing public safety, having regard to Members' local knowledge and the concerns raised at the hearing. The Board also granted a direction under section 32 of the Act that the statutory restriction on making a further application within one year would not apply in relation to the refused element of the application. Councillor Reid left the meeting at 11.47 am. A.2 Premises Licence 0429 - News Stand, 29-31 Dockhead Street, Saltcoats The Board considered an application by Muhammad Anees for a major variation of the Premises Licence to increase the alcohol display area from 8.8m² to 13.56m² and replace the layout plan. The applicant was represented by Bruce Hunter, Solicitor, of Jas Campbell & Co Ltd. The Board considered the application; the Licensing Standards Officer's report, which was taken as read in his absence; the submissions made on behalf of the applicant; the absence of any objection or representation from the statutory consultees; the Board's Policy on Overprovision; and the responses to Members' questions. Following an adjournment, Councillor Cameron Inglis, seconded by Councillor Ronnie Stalker, moved that the application be refused on the ground of overprovision. The Motion was carried. In reaching its decision, the Board had regard to the especially strong policy presumption against increased off-sales capacity in the Three Towns locality, the relevant local public-health and deprivation information, and its previous decisions on similar applications. The Board was not satisfied that the applicant had rebutted that presumption. The Board also granted a direction under section 32 of the Act that the statutory restriction on making a further application within one year would not apply.
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Page 3 of 4 A.3 Premises Licence 0151 - Attwal Stores, 74/78 Mossend Avenue, Kilbirnie The Board considered an application by Baljinder Kaur Attwal for a major variation of the Premises Licence to increase the alcohol display area from 23.994m² to 26.394m² by adding two shelving bays for red wine beside the refrigerated alcohol room and two wooden plinths for multipacks. The Board considered the application; the Licensing Standards Officer's report, which was taken as read in his absence; the submissions from Mr Attwal on behalf of the applicant; the absence of any objection from the statutory consultees; the Board's Policy on Overprovision; and the responses to Members' questions. Councillor Ronnie Stalker, seconded by Councillor Christina Larsen, moved that the application be granted as sought. The Motion was carried. A.4 Personal Licence NA/3141 - Davinder Summel The Board held the separate hearing required by section 84(2) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Mr Summel appeared and represented himself. The Board's finding of 12 August 2026, for the purposes of section 84(1), that Mr Summel had acted in a manner inconsistent with the licensing objectives of securing public safety and protecting and improving public health was not reopened. The Licensing Standards Officer was unable to attend and his written report was taken as read. The Board considered that report, Mr Summel's submissions regarding his personal history and the measures taken since the previous hearing, and his responses to Members' questions concerning his responsibility for the operation of the bar, the provenance of the two bottles and how the incident had occurred. Following an adjournment, Councillor Matthew McLean proposed that an endorsement be made on Personal Licence NA/3141. The proposal was not seconded and fell. Councillor Christina Larsen, seconded by Councillor Ronnie Stalker, then moved that the Personal Licence be revoked. There being no other competent proposal, the Motion was carried. The Board determined that Mr Summel was not a fit and proper person to be the holder of a Personal Licence and revoked Personal Licence NA/3141. In reaching its decision, the Board had regard to the seriousness of the earlier finding, Mr Summel's responsibilities as Personal Licence Holder and Designated Premises Manager, the absence of a satisfactory explanation for how the two bottles came to contain liquid that was not consistent with genuine Smirnoff vodka, and the Board's concern that the explanations and measures presented did not adequately address the risk of recurrence. 5. North Ayrshire Licensing Board Annual Functions Report under Section 9A of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for the Financial Year 2025-2026 The Board considered its Annual Functions Report for the financial year 2025-2026, which summarised the exercise of its functions, its decisions and its work in support of the licensing objectives and the Board's policy statement. The Board approved the Annual Functions Report and agreed that it be published and forwarded to the Scottish Ministers.
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Page 4 of 4 6. North Ayrshire Licensing Board Annual Financial Report under Section 9B of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for the Financial Year 2025-2026 The Board considered its Annual Financial Report for the financial year 2025-2026, setting out the relevant income and expenditure and the basis of calculation. The Board approved the Annual Financial Report and agreed that it be published and forwarded to the Scottish Ministers. 7. Consideration of the Board's Draft Statement of Principles and Local Area Profile The Board considered a report seeking authority to consult on a full replacement Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 and a supporting Local Area Profile for the remainder of the current statutory period. The Board approved the recommendations in the report and authorised an eight-week public consultation on the draft Statement of Principles and Local Area Profile. Councillor Matthew McLean asked that, when the matter returned to the Board, consideration also be given to an alternative position to the proposed casino resolution, including whether casinos, or a limited number of casinos, could be permitted. The Deputy Clerk noted the point and confirmed that it would be reported back to the next Board meeting together with the consultation responses. 8. Any Other Business There was no other business. The meeting ended at 12.32 pm.