The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer confirmed that the Sub-Committee would comprise Councillors Hastrick and Brown.

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

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Hastrick be elected Chair for this Hearing.

There were no disclosures of interest.

Report of the Head of Community and Customer Services.

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

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services setting out details of an application for a new premises licence for the above premises. 

The Licensing Officer introduced the report.  She explained that the Applicant had applied for a new premises licence for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises; with the licensable hours from 11.00 to 20.00 on Monday to Saturday and 11.00 to 18.00 on a Sunday.  The Applicant was not proposing non standard or seasonal hours.  The premises was located in Market Street, Watford; this is a Sensitive Licensing Area under Policy LP4 of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.  The premises was expected to volunteer measures to address street drinking and the sale of super strength alcohol.  Representations had been received from two Responsible Authorities – Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Licensing Authority.   The premises had been under investigation by Trading Standards with a court hearing taking place on 26^th April resulting in a not-guilty verdict.  The Sub-Committee was entitled to put what weight it saw fit to the submissions provided by the Responsible Authorities.  She asked the Sub-Committee to note that that the Applicant’s representative, Mr G Chipchase, had not received instructions to attend the hearing.  Furthermore, the Applicant had communicated with the Licensing Officer today; explaining that she would not be attending the hearing and appreciating that a decision on the application could be made in her absence (the Licensing Officer circulated an e-mail received from the Applicant to that effect).

The Licensing Officer explained that the Sub-Committee should have regard to the four Licensing Objectives; and in making a determination it could grant the application in full - modify, alter or amend proposed conditions or reject the whole or part of the application.

The Chair explained that the hearing would proceed in the Applicant’s absence.  She invited Hertfordshire Police to address the sub-committee.

Detective Sergeant Brown explained that the Applicant was of good character and that conditions for the premises licence had been negotiated with her previously.  Police had then become aware of the Trading Standards prosecution of Mikhail Lysak, who had operated the premises; that had resulted in the not guilty verdict.  She outlined the history of the premises - it was not connected to crime and disorder; although there was intelligence about the apparent illegal sale of tobacco and of a racial incident.  She asked that the conditions as shown on pages 27 and 29 of the agenda be applied and that three additional conditions of no single cans of alcohol to be sold (only in packs of four), no sale of alcohol to street drinkers and no sale of alcohol to persons as notified by Hertfordshire Constabulary be required.  She gave an example to demonstrate how the latter condition would operate and of how the condition was specific to particular individuals. 

The Chair invited the Licensing Authority to address the Sub-Committee.

The Senior Licensing Officer explained that the representations had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.