Agenda item

The licensing officer introduced all parties and stated there were no updates. He confirmed that the resident who had submitted a representation was not in attendance.

The applicant’s legal representative stated that there was an error on page 107 of the agenda papers and that 6am-9pm were the delivery hours agreed with the noise team. The premises were in Finsbury Park and Holloway Road cumulative impact area. He stated that this was the second application Swift Stores had submitted in Islington; the first was opened in early May 2022 and there had been no issues.

He further advised that the premises would not be alcohol-led and that no more than 10% of the shop floor would be allocated to storing and selling alcohol. There was also a robust operating schedule, the hours being sought were within framework hours and there would be match-day controls.

The applicant’s legal representative stated that no responsible authorities had submitted representations and that the resident had objected to the late-night sale of alcohol but this was after the closing hours put forward by the applicant so was not relevant. The applicant took the sale of alcohol seriously and was a member of relevant associations promoting best practice. The resident had proposed conditions which the applicant’s legal representative stated were disproportionate. The applicant had worked with the police on conditions which had been agreed. A letter had been sent by the applicant to the resident.

In response to a member’s question about mitigating measures in relation to the sale of alcohol from 8am, the applicant’s legal representative stated that the range of alcohol being sold was not geared to street drinking and offers were not advertised outside.  Little alcohol would be sold at 8am but some people wanted to buy alcohol with food for consumption after work. The operating schedule included training and working with the police in the same way the applicant had done with the previous Swift Stores application in Archway.

In summary, the applicant’s legal representative stated that the hours applied for had been given careful thought and the licensing objectives would be promoted.

RESOLVED that the application for a new premises licence in respect of Swift Stores, 278 Seven Sisters Road be granted:-

1) to allow the sale by retail of alcohol for off sales from 8am until 11pm Monday to Sunday.

2) the premises to be open to the public Monday to Sunday from 8am until 11pm.

Conditions detailed on pages 102 to 107 of the agenda be applied to the licence with the following amendment:-

·       Condition 1 on page 107 be amended to read “Deliveries shall only be made between the hours of 6am to 9pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and from 9am to 9pm on Sundays.”

Reasons for Decision

This meeting 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 and Holloway 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 operating schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

One local resident objection had been received.  There had been no representations made by the responsible authorities. Conditions were agreed between the applicant and the Noise Team and Police

The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought were within the hours specified in licensing policy 6. The Licensing Sub-Committee also noted that only 10% of the shop floor would be used to store/sell alcohol, the premises would not be alcohol led and the agreed conditions provided for football match day controls. These provisions fell under the possible exemptions to the Holloway and Finsbury Park Cumulative Impact Policy.

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the comprehensive 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.

The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought were within the hours specified in licensing policy 6. The Licensing Sub-Committee also noted that only 10% of the shop floor would be used to store/sell alcohol, the premises would not be alcohol led and the agreed conditions provided for football match day controls. These provisions fell under the possible exemptions to the Holloway and Finsbury Park Cumulative Impact Policy.

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the comprehensive 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.