Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashberry, Broughton and Chivers.

Members are asked to declare an interest in matters for consideration at the meeting.

None declared.

The minutes of the meeting held on Friday 22nd June were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

Report CSL013 by the Community Safety and Licensing Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That the Premises Licence for the premises known as International Food Shop, 7-8 Wharf Road, Grantham be granted as a applied for.

Note to applicant: Members were concerned about the doorway between the two store rooms and urge the applicant to make arrangements to address this issue to ensure that people using the store room adjacent to the store room at the premises cannot access the premises store room or the premises whilst ensuring that the fire door complies with fire safety legislation.

The Solicitor to the Committee introduced those present and confirmed who was to speak on the application. Mr Ahmad, the applicant was being represented by Mr Edwards from Edwards Solicitors Melton, Sergeant John Mellor County Licensing Sergeant and PC Dale Walker Licensing Officer with responsibility for North and South Kesteven would represent Lincolnshire Police. Emma Milligan, Lincolnshire Safe Communities Trading Standards Service, Heather Bellamy, Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards Service, Alexandra Connell Lincolnshire Trading Standards Service.

The Licensing Officer presented report CSL013 which concerned an application for a Premises Licence for the International Food Shop, 7-8 Wharf Road, Grantham. The premise was a convenience store which sold mainly European branded grocery and general foods. The hours for the supply of alcohol asked for were:

Monday – Sunday 06:00 to 00:00

The premise being open Monday – Sunday 06:00 to 00:00

Representations had been made to the application from two responsible authorities, one from Lincolnshire Police and one from Trading Standards the objections had been made under the licensing objectives of Crime and Disorder and Public Safety. Both of the representations referred to the seizure of contraband goods by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs Officers from 7-8 Wharf Road, Grantham in 2011 when the premise did not hold a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

Mr Edwards then presented his client’s case. He informed the Committee that Mr Ahmad was the new premises owner taking over the premises on 10th April 2012.  He had a similar premise in Melton, was a member of the Pubwatch Group in Melton and had not been in trouble with the police.  He then spoke about the seized goods which had nothing to do with his client. He referred to another store room which was located behind the store room shown on the map circulated with the report which was accessed from Brewery Hill by a double garage and through a door from the store room shown on the plan circulated with the agenda. Mr Edwards stated that this store room belonged to no.9 Wharf Road and was not part of the lease to 7-8 Wharf Road.  The door leading through the two store rooms was for fire safety reasons and it was this store room which was stocked with alcohol that belonged to 9 Wharf Road.  Mr Edwards then spoke about the length of hours that had been asked for. One of the reasons for the long hours was that a lot of the shop’s customers worked shifts and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

The meeting closed at 11.12am.