Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Watford

Contact: Jodie Kloss/Alan Garside  Email: legalanddemocratic@watford.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

7.

Committee membership/ election of a Chair

Minutes:

The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer confirmed that the Sub-Committee would comprise Councillors Connal, Crout and Scudder.

 

The Sub-Committee was asked to elect a Chair for the Hearing.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Councillor Crout be elected Chair for this hearing.

 

8.

Disclosure of interests (if any)

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

9.

Application for a premises licence: Watford Convenience Store, Market Street, Watford pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services.

 

This report asks the Sub-Committee to consider an application for a new premises licence following the receipt of representations.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Introduction to the application

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services outlining the application.

 

The Licensing Officer introduced the report. The application was for a new premises licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises.  One representation had been received which was from Hertfordshire Constabulary.  There was an existing licence in operation at the premises.  The premises was defined as an off-licence and, due to its location, policy LP3 applied, which aimed to create a family-friendly town centre. The Police had proposed alternative timings and additional conditions for the licence. Some conditions had been agreed following a mediation meeting.  The outstanding issues for which there had not yet been an agreement were the terminal hour for alcohol sales, the maximum strength of beers, lagers and ciders to be sold and the minimum quantity of cans available to customers.

 

The Committee was asked to have regard to the representations and the licensing policy, although it was not bound by it. Reasons needed to be given if the committee departed from the policy.

 

There were no questions for the Licensing Officer.

 

Representations

Sergeant Luke Mitchell introduced the representation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

 

Sergeant Mitchell described the location of the premises which was near a sensitive licencing area and a busy family-friendly town centre. Changing the terminal hour to midnight would provide more opportunities for customers to pre-load before going into other premises.  There was a risk of an increase in crime and disorder following such consumption. It would also facilitate the purchase of alcohol by those leaving the town potentially causing nuisance and disorder to residents in the area. Historically, there had been a problem with street drinkers and associated antisocial behaviour (ASB) in Market Street and it was in the top 8 locations for ASB in Central Ward. 

 

The Police were further concerned about the impact on vulnerable and homeless people. There had been an increase in people sleeping rough and begging in the area. Central Ward had seen a 20% increase in ASB since April and the increase was mostly linked to issues around homelessness and street drinking.  Shoplifting had also increased by 20% and this was often linked to those feeding drug or alcohol habits. The Police also reported an increase in assaults where alcohol was the aggravating factor. These concerns had led to a joint operation between the Police, homelessness charities and the council to signpost people affected by homelessness to agencies offering support.  An increase in the hours of the sale of alcohol would damage the work done.

 

The Council’s policy sought a terminal hour of 20.00 for the sale of alcohol in this area. The Police had suggested alternative times and conditions but the applicant had not been in agreement with the proposals.  The applicant did not wish to compromise on the condition that no fewer than four cans of beer, lager or cider could be sold at a time. It was suggested that this indicated that most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

 

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