Agenda and minutes

(Director of Corporate Support Services) To consider the attached report.

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors T Boyce, M Sartin and P Spencer. The Chairman welcomed the participants and requested that they introduce themselves to the Sub-Committee. In attendance on behalf of the application were Mr Robert Jordan, the applicant’s solicitor and Mr & Mrs Mathialagan, the owners. In attendance objecting to the application was Mr David Bermange. The Chairman then introduced the Members and Officers present, and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application.

The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Legal Officer informed the Sub-Committee that a new premises licence for The White House, Market Place, Abridge, Romford had been received along with representations from interested parties. The application applied for the following:

·                     To supply alcohol from 06:00 to 23:00 Monday to Sunday, and

·                     To open to the public from 06:00 to 23:00.

Following receipt of the application, the Council had received representations from:

·                     Essex Police;

·                     Five representations from local residents;

·                     Lambourne Parish Council;

·                     Essex County Fire & Rescue Service;

·                     Children’s Safeguarding Service; and

·                     Essex County Council Trading Standards.

Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

Mr Jordan, the applicants’ agent advised the Sub-Committee that the applicant wished to amend the opening hours and the sale of alcohol to 08:00 to 21:00, Monday to Sunday, Christmas Day and Bank Holidays. Mr Jordan advised that the applicant was willing to comply with the conditions that Essex Police’s had requested regarding CCTV being installed, maintained and stored for 21 days.

Mr Jordan advised the Sub-Committee that staff were trained in relation to the sale of alcohol and the ‘Challenge 25’ policy would be implemented within the premises. All employees were aware of the consequences of selling alcohol to under age customers and the prevention of anti sociable behaviour that could be created from under age drinkers. Staff would also be trained in the importance of proxy sales of alcohol and all groups of young people purchasing alcohol would be ID to prevent proxy sales. The applicant would also display signage for the ‘Challenge 25’ policy, CCTV, Proxy Sales and a leave quietly notice. Regarding the refusal and incident log, they would be checked every four months by the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

Mr Jordan advised that the application should be granted as the objections were in relation to other premises around the vicinity and should not be attributed to this application.

Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

Councillor Boyce asked whether the applicant would be willing to change the storage of CCTV recordings for 31 days rather than the requested 21 days. Mr Jordan advised that the applicant would be happy to amend the application.

Councillor Sartin enquired how many members of staff were employed and what training was involved. Mr Jordan advised that there were two part time members of staff and Mr & Mrs Mathialagan, who would provide the training.

Councillor Sartin enquired about the entrances to the shop as it appeared there were two entrances. Mr Mathialagan advised that the smaller door  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.