Agenda item

The licensing officer apologised that additional submissions sent by the applicant’s representative on the 1 July had been circulated to members just before the start of the meeting.

The applicant’s representative confirmed that there were six additional pages of submissions. The amendments necessary to conditions 31 and 36 were noted. She reported that she had sought a pre-consultation with the police and then submitted the application following their recommendations. Following minor amendments the police withdrew their representation. These were detailed in the additional submission. The applicant was an existing wholesaler who had passed the fit and proper person test. A fire safety inspection had been made and no representations had been made by them. The interested parties were not present at the meeting. In response to concerns raised, the applicant’s representative stated that need was not a matter that should be taken into account when considering an application. The Sub-Committee should consider whether or not the application would impact on the licensing objectives. Conditions were proposed that would deter street drinkers and the homeless; all orders must be made the day before by telephone and would be by collection only, speciality Georgian wine only was to be sold with a minimum order of six bottles.  It was proposed to sell only Georgian wine, but it was hoped that other European wines could be added in the future. Sales would exclude high strength alcohol. Match day conditions would apply to the licence so there would be no alcohol made available three hours before and for two hours after matches or collected on match days before 11am. Notices would be prominently displayed, loading/unloading would be between 8am and 9pm only. All purchases would be made by customer account.  At the end of the day the frontage would be cleared of litter and waste.  It was noted that the applicant was unable to attend the meeting.

In response to questions and concerns raised regarding the selling of wines from other countries, it was stated that the retail price of wine would generally be from £7 to £25. There would be no deliveries and collection only from outside the front of the premises in Station Place.

In summary, the applicant’s representative stated that it was appreciated that the premises was in a cumulative impact area and conditions had been proposed to prevent an increase in street drinking.

RESOLVED

1)   That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of S and B Impex Ltd, 3 Station Place, N4, be granted to allow the sale of alcohol, off supplies, from 10 am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 7pm on Sunday.

2)   Conditions detailed on pages 46 to 49 of the agenda shall be applied to the licence with the following amendments:-

·         Condition 31 to read:-  All deliveries of alcohol will be made to bona fide addresses without exception. Age-verification will also be carried out at the point of delivery. Employees of the licence holder carrying out deliveries will be instructed to take a signature for all deliveries and to require a valid form of identification from any delivery recipients appearing to be under the age of 25 before handing over the delivery. Acceptable forms of identification will be as per those detailed in condition 29.

·         Condition 36 to read:-  The sale of alcohol at the premises shall be limited to Georgian wine only and sold at a minimum of six bottles per-order.

REASONS FOR DECISION

This meeting was held under regulations made under the Coronovirus Act 2020 and it was facilitated by Zoom.

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 took into consideration Licensing Policies 2 & 3.  The premises fall within the Finsbury Park cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 3 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications for the grant or variation of premises licences which are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused following the receipt of representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate in the operation schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

Thirteen local resident objections had been received.  There had been no representations made by the responsible authorities.

The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought were within the hours specified in licensing policy 6.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence from the applicant’s representative that the application was prepared in such a way as to avoid anti-social behaviour and in respect of orders made by telephone only, by clients and therefore with no impulse buying. There was a minimum purchase of six bottles and a next day collection only service.  Match day conditions had been agreed with the police. The premises was to sell mainly Georgian wines but hoped to expand to other Eastern European wines in the future. She stated that the minimum retail price of a bottle of wine would be £7.

The Sub-Committee concluded that the granting of a licence with the conditions, as amended, would promote the licensing objectives. The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought were within the hours specified in licensing policy 5 and 6.  The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the operating schedule demonstrated high standards of management and that the proposed use, with the extensive conditions agreed, meant that the premises would not add to the cumulative impact.

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that granting the premises licence was proportionate and appropriate to the promotion of the licensing objectives and in the public interest.