Agenda item

The Public Protection Officer (Licensing) introduced the report to the Sub-Committee and highlighted the following information from it.

The application proposes the following licensable activities:

·  The sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises every day between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00.

The application proposes the following opening times:

·  Every day between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00.

He explained that there were three written representations of objection from local residents and one written representation on behalf of St Monica’s Trust in support of the application.

He explained that following a consultation with the police, the applicant agreed to a series of measures, as set out in the report, which will replace those offered by the applicant in the original application.

The Chair asked if any of the Responsible Authorities had made any objection to the application.

The Public Protection Officer (Licensing) that they had not.

Hardish Purewal addressed the Sub-Committee on behalf of the applicant, she was accompanied by a current store manager Debbie Stacey.

She informed the Sub-Committee that One Stop have over 700 stores nationally and employ around 10,000 people. She added that they have 30 stores in the South West area.

She explained that the company has a Good Neighbour Policy and would like to become part of the neighbourhood when it opens. She added that they would want to hear from local people should any problems concerning the store occur.

She stated that all staff training is documented and that they would receive refreshed training on age related sales twice a year. She said that the store strongly follows the Think 25 policy and that appropriate forms of ID must be shown for sales to be approved.

She informed the Sub-Committee that there would be between 12 – 18 cameras in the store, mainly covering the main door and checkout areas. She added that they would also have panic alarms in place.

She thanked the residents for sharing their concerns and said that they hoped to be able to have an open dialogue with them regarding the store.

She stated that having agreed a number of conditions with the police and having received no formal objections from them or other Responsible Authorities that they believe that the application should be granted on its own merits.

Councillor Toby Simon asked if alcohol sales were a necessary element required for the store to open.

Hardish Purewal replied that they were.

Councillor Ann Morgan asked what procedure would be followed if abuse was directed towards a member of staff.

Hardish Purewal replied that the expectation would be for the store manager to intervene and that if the abuse did not cease then the police would be contacted. She added that at least two members of staff would be present on site at all times.

Caron Mills, who had formally objected to the application, asked how the store would deal with repeat offenders.

Debbie Stacey replied that they would contact their Head Office and seek to write to those persons and issue them with a store ban.

Caron Mills asked what would staff do if such a person were to then return to the store.

Debbie Stacey replied that they would be asked to leave the store and that staff would be able to link their communication equipment to the store tannoy system to make all staff aware of the situation.

Hardish Purewal added that if a person has been banned from the store and tried to return, this would be a matter of trespass that the police would be able to follow up on.

The Chair commented that to some degree he felt that the store was a little remote and asked if they had considered the use of security staff at all at the premises.

Hardish Purewal replied that any additional security would be introduced on a risk assessment basis and said that at the present time they did not anticipate the need for such measures.

Caron Mills addressed the Sub-Committee and said that she was heartened by what she had heard from the applicant in their statement and in response to questioning.

She stated that she lives opposite the proposed premises and has witnessed incidents of anti-social behaviour in the past in the area. She said that the premises is next door to a care home that provides palliative care and has residents who suffer from dementia and would not want them to be disturbed by an increased level of activity.

She said that she does retain her concerns over potential bad behaviour and questioned whether the hours for the sale of alcohol needed as late every day of the week.

Councillor Toby Simon asked the nature of the anti-social behaviour that she has witnessed in the area.

Caron Mills replied that she had seen vehicles with young people in continually driving around the area causing a disturbance and young people taking over the children’s playground area and behaving in a noisy manner.

Councillor Ann Morgan asked if the local school or the St. Monica’s Trust had raised an objection to the application.

Caron Mills replied that they had not.

Hardish Purewal made a closing statement to the Sub-Committee. She began by informing them that staff would also wear body cameras whilst working in the store.

She stated that One Stop was a good operator with a track record of upholding the licensing objectives. She added that there was no evidence in place for them to amend their hours for the sale of alcohol and that no objections to the application had been received from the Responsible Authorities.

She said that the store would be willing to work with residents on any issues that may occur.

Caron Mills made a closing statement to the Sub-Committee. She said that she welcomed the measures that had been agreed with the police and that if granted that the store would be run as responsibly as been stated.

Decision & Reasons

The Members of the Sub-Committee have carefully considered the Council’s Licensing Policy, the Legislation around the granting of a New Premises licence, the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act, appropriate case law and the Human Rights Act.

In particular, the Sub-Committee considered the Licensing Officers’ report, the Applicant’s written and oral representations, the written and oral representations from the Objector, other written objections made and the written representation in support of the application.

There was an opportunity for all parties to ask questions of each other on the relevant oral submissions.

It was noted the additional measures as discussed with the Applicant and the Police that have been adopted by the Applicant.

It also noted that the Applicant would be happy to engage with the Community should any issues arise should the Premises Licence be granted.

The Sub-Committee after carefully considering the application and hearing all of the representations, noting that this is a new premises licence, does consider that the licensing objectives have been met and therefore grants the Premises Licence as set out in the Application.

The full decision, which will have the representations discussed today at the hearing, will be published on the Council’s website.