Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the Sub-Committee C meeting.

Councillor Maurice Byham was elected Chairman for this meeting of Licensing Sub-Committee C.

To received the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2015 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting)

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2015 were confirmed and signed.

To receive from Members declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting, in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

Councillor Carole King declared an interest in agenda item no.4 as her husband was the Treasurer of Weyhill in Bloom.

The purpose of the report is to enable the Sub-Committee to consider an application from Mr Sivapalan Sivapathasuntharam for a new premises licence for Premier 4S Convenience Store, 60-62 Weyhill, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 1HN, where one valid representation has been received.

 The Sub-Committee is requested to consider the application for the grant of a premises licence on its merits.

Having regard to the representation made, the Sub-Committee must take such of the steps outlined below (if any) as it considers appropriate for the promotion of the Licensing Objectives. Those steps are:

·               To grant the licence subject to such conditions as are consistent with the operating schedule modified to such extent as the Sub-Committee considers appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, and any mandatory conditions;

·               To exclude from the scope of the licence any of the licensable activities to which the application relates;

·               To refuse to specify a person as the premises supervisor;

·               To reject the application.

The applicant accompanied by his brother and a spokesperson attended the meeting and confirmed that the agenda papers had been received and understood.

The objector to the application was unable to attend the meeting and their objection was considered in their absence.

The applicant’s spokesperson summarised the application and told the Sub-Committee that the applicant and his brother, who would be a partner in the business, had a number of years experience in large retail stores.  They were fully aware of the concerns of the objector and had identified the steps they intended to take to promote the Licensing Objectives. 

Following questions regarding the layout of the premises and the location and storage of alcohol, the operation of the Challenge 25 policy and positioning of CCTV/fire extinguishers, the applicant’s spokesperson explained to the satisfaction of the Sub-Committee that the alcohol display would be covered and locked, customers would be challenged and asked for ID if they appeared to be underage and the situation of CCTV cameras and fire extinguishers identified.  They also confirmed that they would refuse the sale of alcohol to customers who appeared to be drunk.  All refusals would be documented in the refusals log.

In response to a question, the applicant confirmed that he was planning to move close to the premises but in the meantime his brother would occupy a room in the area. 

The Sub-Committee then WITHDREW at 10.23am.

Following the Sub-Committee’s deliberation, the meeting resumed at 10.57am.  The Council’s Solicitor had been asked to advise the Sub-Committee during their deliberation on the wording of their decision.

The Sub-Committee had carefully considered the application for a new premises licence, taking into account the representation received, statutory guidance and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy 2013-2018.

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant and his brother, who would be a partner in the business, had significant experience in the retail industry and intended to promote the Licensing Objectives and had been trained in all areas in their previous occupations.

The Sub-Committee also noted that the premises had a number of CCTV cameras and that the applicant intended to ensure as far as possible that the external frontage to the premises is kept litter-free.

The Sub-Committee has therefore agreed to GRANT the licence as applied for, subject to conditions consistent with the operating schedule, as it did not consider that there was sufficient substantiated evidence to reject the application.

The Sub-Committee has considered the views of the objector and the objector’s fears that public nuisance problems, anti-social behaviour and young drinking problems could arise. However, the Sub-Committee believes that the applicant has addressed those concerns at the meeting today and by the conditions offered in the operating schedule.

The Sub-Committee is conscious that should there be any cause for concern in the future, legislation allows for members of the community and responsible authorities to contact their licensing authority with complaints over the operation of the premises, leading to a possible review of the licence.