Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report.

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillor B Surtees (Chairman), C P Pond and R Gadsby. The Chairman introduced the Members and Officers present and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application. In attendance on behalf of the applicant were a legal representative and Licensing Compliance Trainer.

(a)          The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Licensing Manager, K Tuckey introduced the application. The application had been made by Tesco’s Stores Limited for Tesco Theydon Bois Express, Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, Epping. The applicant had requested a variation to the existing premises licence, to amend the licensable hours to 06.00 to 23.00 Monday to Sunday and to remove the Good Friday and Christmas day trading restrictions. The Police and Essex Fire Service had responded with no objections and there had been one representation from a local resident but no objectors were present.

(b)          Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

The Legal representative made a short presentation in support of the application to change the licensable hours to reciprocate the premises opening hours and remove the trading day restrictions that related to Good Friday and Christmas Day.

(c)          Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

Councillor R Gadsby asked what time the staff arrived at the premises. The legal representative advised that the Store Manager probably arrived around 5 a.m. and other staff around 5.30 a.m. although these arrangements would not be effected by the application. The variation of the premises licence was simply to allow the purchase of alcohol to be inline with the opening hours of the premises.

Councillor R Gadsby asked whether they had consulted the residents. The legal representative advised that they always tried to talk to residents and resolve any issues of concern.

Councillor C P Pond asked whether the shop opened on Good Friday and Christmas Day already. The legal representative advised that the premises opened on Good Friday and although the premises did not currently open on Christmas Day, the variation was to ensure that the opening hours and licensing hours matched.

Councillor B Surtees asked that if sales of alcohol were not the main attraction of the shop, why it appeared that a large proportion of the shop floor space had been made an available to displace of alcohol. The legal representative advised that on average 10% of the shop floor space would be dedicated to alcohol to accompany the food products they sold in the stores.

(d)          Closing Statement from the Applicant

The legal representative advised that the variation of the premises licence was to ensure the sales of alcohol matched with the opening hours and there was no evidence to suggest any issues would be caused in relation to the licensing objectives.

(e)          Consideration of the Application by the Sub-Committee

The Sub-Committee asked everyone to leave the chamber while they considered the application in private. During their deliberations the Sub-Committee received no further advice from the officers present.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the application for the variation to the existing premises Licence for Tesco Theydon Bois Express, Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, Epping be granted subject to the conditions set out in the application.