Agenda item

The officer from public health was unable to attend.  The licensing officer read out additional information on their behalf.  It was stated that there were a high level of licensed premises in the area, one licensed premises to every 59 residents.  There were 30 licensed premises in close proximity and 22% of alcohol related ambulance callouts were in the area. This was an area where street drinking was common.

The police were concerned that the hours requested were outside the framework hours and there had been no consideration of the Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) in the application. The police stated that conditions should be placed on the licence if granted. It was noted that the applicant had not agreed with two of the police conditions. 

The applicant stated that they agreed that no more than 15% of their premises would be used for alcohol.  The alcohol was behind the counter as you walked in the premises. They revised the hours to Sunday to Thursday 8 am to 11pm and Friday and Saturday 8am to midnight.  They reported that condition 5 and condition 2 of the police conditions were accepted.  The applicant stated that there would be three personal licence holders and a total of five or six staff. They had an additional business in Blackstock Road.

In response to questions they stated that they needed the hours of midnight on Friday and Saturday as customers liked to grab a drink and go home.  The shop was also a grocery shop with a fresh bakery and fruit and vegetables.  The applicant stated he had a clean record for twelve years, they were familiar with the area and understood their client base.  The shop had been closed for two years and would be a benefit to the area.  They stated that all alcohol would be behind the counter and would not be self serve. It was noted that this was not shown on the plan submitted with the application.  The correct plan would need to be submitted prior to operation.  The three personal licence holders would work in rotation.  They were experienced in dealing with anti-social behaviour at their other premises.

The police reported that they had met at their Blackstock Road premises following an after hours sale at 1:10 am.  The applicant reported that their brother had sold after hours. He had left the country and would have no involvement in the business. They had learnt by his mistake.  

The applicant stated that the conditions were extensive and asked that the licence be granted.

RESOLVED that the application for a new premises licence in respect of The Shop, 26 Crouch Hill, N4 be granted:-

a)               To supply alcohol for consumption off the premises from 09:00 – 23:00 hours          on Monday to Saturday and 10:00 to 23:00 hours on Sunday.

b)               Conditions as outlined in appendix 3 as detailed on page 248 and 249 of the           agenda with the following additions shall be applied to the licence.

·        There shall be a personal licence holder on the premises after 19:00 hours.

·        The premises cannot be used until the correct plan has been submitted to the licensing authority.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Sub-Committee listened to all the evidence and submissions and read all the material. The Sub-Committee reached the decision having given consideration to the Licensing Act 2003, as amended, and its regulations, the national guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence from the licensing officer, who read out a statement from public health, concerning the high level of ambulance call outs in the area relating to alcohol consumption.  The police expressed concerns about the hours of operation and the availability of alcohol on street drinkers. Conditions had been agreed by the applicant but not proposed conditions about the hours of operation and keeping the alcohol in locked fridges/cabinets outside licensing hours.  The applicant stated that the condition concerning the keeping of alcohol in locked fridges/cabinets was agreed.  They were experienced operators and familiar with problems that could arise.

When questioned about the plan, the applicant admitted that the plan did not show accurately the arrangements for alcohol display. All alcohol would be behind the counter. The applicant agreed to submit an accurate plan.

The Sub-Committee considered that with an amendment on hours to bring the hours within the framework hours set out in licensing policy 8, there would not be a significant impact on the licensing objectives.  An accurate plan had to be provided before the licence was granted.