Agenda item

Report CSL040 by the Community Safety and Licensing Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That the application for a new Premises Licence for Super News and Booze, Unit 2, 50 Kesteven Road, Stamford be approved as applied for.

Note to applicant: The Committee asked that the applicant consider changing the name of the premises to something more appropriate to the area.

The Solicitor to the Committee introduced those present and confirmed the name of the agent acting for the applicant.

The Licensing Officer presented report CSL.040 which concerned the application for a new premises licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 for 50 Kesteven Road, Stamford.  The licensable activities requested were for the supply of alcohol from 07:00 to 23:00hrs, Monday to Sunday. The opening hours of the premises were 07:00 to 23:00hrs Monday to Sunday

Two representations had been received via e-mail under the licensing objective of the Protection of Children from Harm as the interested parties were concerned about the proximity of the premises to a nearby school and a potential problem with underage drinking in the area.

The agent for the applicant, Mr Samaroo then presented his case. The application was a standard application for a general store. The hours requested were in line with the other stores that the applicant owned.  He appreciated the concerns of the residents in the area but no representations had been made by any of the statutory bodies.

One Member questioned the name of the premises specifically the word booze was this generic to all stores that the applicant owned.  Mr Samaroo replied that it was not a generic name and he would ask his client to re consider the name of the premises.

Further comments were made about underage drinking in the area to which Mr Samaroo replied that his client had many years of experience with running this type of premises and that the Personal Licence Holder would be present at all times and Challenge 25 training would be given and enforced, also the outside of the premises would be controlled and CCTV would be installed within the premises.

The Licensing Officer then gave his closing statement and the steps available to the Committee to promote the four licensing objectives having read the representations received from the public and those made during the meeting.

The agent for the applicant then gave his closing statement stating that the premises was firstly a general food store and was there for the whole community.

(11.05am the Licensing Officers and agent left the meeting)

Members discussed the application having regard to the four licensing objectives and the representations received.  Although concern was expressed about the lateness of the hours requested for the supply of alcohol it was noted that no representations had been received from any of the statutory bodies. The Solicitor to the Committee advised Members on the advertisements of alcohol in connection with the objective protection of children from harm and reminded Members that any decision made had to be reasonable and proportionate. Reference was then made to the name of the premises especially the word booze. It was proposed and seconded that the licence be granted as applied for and the applicant be asked to re consider the naming of the premises and this was agreed.

(11.07am The Licensing Officers and the agent returned to the meeting)

The Solicitor to the Committee read out the decision.  The Committee had considered all the representations from all the parties and decided to grant the licence as applied for. They would like the applicant to re think the name of the shop and asked the agent to take this forward with his client for a name more appropriate for the area.

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