The Strategic Director, Environment and Sport will present a report (Document “I”) that outlines an application for variation of a Premises Licence to extend permitted hours for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises and permit the provision of late night refreshment.

Members are invited to consider the information and documents referred to in Document “I” and, after hearing individuals, bodies or businesses, determine the related application.

(Melanie McGurk – 01274 431873)

The Licensing Officer presented Document “I” and noted that since the report had been circulated a request had also been received for a variation of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for the service station. She explained the variation to the licence requested in the report and the steps which the applicant had stated would be taken to promote the licensing objectives. She also outlined representations which had been received in objection to the application from ward councillors and local residents.

The applicant’s solicitor then made a detailed presentation on behalf of his client explaining that the company was very experienced and currently operated 350 petrol stations. He noted that the store already benefitted from permission to trade for 24 hours and that the application today was to regularise the premises licence to reflect that better and to have a late night refreshment licence  which was a legal requirement if hot drinks were to be sold during the night. The applicant company would like to offer that facility, hence the application today.

He noted that there had been no objection to the application for any of the statutory organisations, especially the Police, which he would have expected if the premises had ever been the sire of public disorder. He reminded the Panel of the guidance on such applications and the terms of the Council’s own policy.

He advised the Panel that he had attended many such hearings and that they provided a good opportunity to make direct contact with local residents. He had already spoken with two of the objectors and would be following up on some of their concerns. He also stated that he understood the concerns of local residents about the future operation of the premises but reminded the Panel that, in the event of future problems, residents would have the right of review. He then addressed each of the residents’ concerns individually and responded to them in turn.

Members of the Panel then questioned him in respect of the application, asking what the current opening hours or the shop were and whether it could open 24/7 if required. They were advised that the current hours of operation were 0600 to 2200 each day but that there were no restrictions on the store’s opening hours and it could, if required, open 24/7. At the moment, however, the store could not sell alcohol across that whole time frame.

A resident also queried whether the applicant was aware that the Police had been called just over a month ago as there had been an altercation with a large group of young people. The applicant’s solicitor confirmed that he was aware of the incident but it had just been a single incident.

He was also asked whether a log of refused sales was being kept and how much staff training had been undertaken since the applicant had taken over the premises. He advised that a log had been operated since the store was taken over in July and that all staff had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.