Agenda and minutes

To confirm the procedure for the hearing (attached).

The procedure for the meeting was noted.

Members are asked to declare any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meetings held on 12 April and 8 June 2011 were agreed as a correct record of proceedings and the Chairman authorised to sign them.

To hear and determine an opposed application for a new premises licence.

                                                                                                Report of the Head of Consumer Protection attached

Participating in this item were:

John Wallsgrove, the agent representing the applicant.

John Wallsgrove began by stating the applicant’s case:

·         Digital, colour CCTV would be operational throughout the shop. CCTV recordings would be kept for police reference. All staff would be trained to operate the CCTV and tested afterwards.

·         Waitrose operated the Challenge 21 policy. Challenge 25 would be operable by mid September to coincide with the Oldfield road shop opening.

·         Tills were designed to prompt staff to Challenge customers deemed to look under 21.

·         The branch manager would be appointed the designated premises supervisor.

·         Area managers would be responsible for checking procedures were adhered to and would hold regular audit team meetings.

·         Waitrose was a member of the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group.

·         Waitrose was also a member of Serve Legal, an independent test purchase service for retailers of age restricted products across the UK.

·         The shop would provide sixty jobs to local residents.

·         The police had not expressed concern about underage sales at the Waitrose.

·         Alcohol would be discretely located in the furthest corner of the shop.

Waitrose was applying for a premises licence for hours in excess of their hours of opening.

There were no interested parties present for the item.

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee Mr Walsgrove stated:

·         Waitrose had written to Mr Cook to satisfy his concerns for the Oldfield Road premises licence.

·         The applied hours of sale by retail for alcohol exceeded the shop opening hours. The applicant explained this was to prevent the need for a further application if Sunday trading hours were to change in the future.

RESOLVED that the opposed application for the new premises licence be Granted.

The REASONS for the decision were:

·         The Licensing Sub-Committee felt that the applicant had met all four licensing objectives and decided to grant the application on those terms.

·         It was decided that is was necessary and proportionate to impose the conditions set out below to meet the licensing objectives:

The applicant, its staff, and managers are encouraged to engage with the local community so as to avoid future concerns with local residents. Should there be problems in terms of the Applicant not meeting the licensing objectives or the conditions on the Premises Licence, then residents should notify the Licensing Authority of their complaint and ultimately have the right to request a Review of the Premises Licence.  Valid noise complaints should be notified to the Environmental Health Commercial Team on telephone number 0208 891 7994, or, if the incident is between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Fridays or Saturdays, to the Weekend Noise Response Service on telephone number 07944 038495.

Please refer to the decision notice (attached) for full details of the decision and reasons.