Issue - meetings

To consider an application to provide the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises.

The Licensing Officer, Ms Dale Barrett, presented the report and advised the Committee that the application was for a variation of an existing licence for the supply of alcohol Monday to Sunday , 24 hours.  The existing licence allowed for the supply of alcohol from 8:00am – 11:00pm.  The applicant had offered no further conditions however, reaffirmed he would comply with all the existing conditions on the licence.

The Committee was also informed that representations had been received from the police however, these were withdrawn as the applicant had complied with their recommendations.  Further representations had been submitted by several local residents in relation to anti-social behaviour,  public nuisance and major concerns relating to alcohol being sold for 24 hours.  The Committee was further informed by the Licensing Officer, that Rostrevor Avenue was part of a dispersal order area and included within a street drinking zone.

The Committee enquired of the role of the Designed Premises Supervisor (DPS) and in response the Licensing Officer, advised that a DPS was required to be assigned to a licence however, their presence wasn’t required at the premises all the time.  A DPS could authorise another person to supervise the premises in their absence and should leave written authorisation.  The licensing authority would encourage DPSs to leave a person to supervise who was a personal licence holder.

The Committee requested clarification on the alcohol dispersal order and were advised that the dispersal order was in effect due to problems with street drinkers who took over road corners.

The applicant’s representative addressed the Committee and advised that the premises licence was granted in 2008.  The applicant had proved he could run a successful licenced business without problems and no objections had been submitted from the responsible authorities.  The licensee confirmed that he would ensure that customers did not disturb the neighbours and that the front of the shop was an alcohol free zone.  All the conditions on the licence had been implemented and it was the intention to open for 24 hours as requested by their customers.  The applicant’s representative advised that the applicant would be acceptable to any conditions the Committee wished to impose if the licence were granted.

RESOLVED

The Committee considered the application by Mr T Soylemez, and decided to refuse the variation to the premises licence.  The Committee did not believe that granting the licence would uphold the objective of the prevention of public nuisance.  The Committee considered the written representations of the local residents and the oral evidence presented at the hearing.

The Committee considered that there are major concerns in relation to nuisance in the vicinity, in particular Rostrevor Avenue, caused by street drinkers including rubbish, noise and urinating in the street.  This was clearly evidenced by several written representations from local residents and confirmed by the fact that a dispersal order is in place that covered the High Road where the premises were located.  To grant the licence would undermine the initiative taken to alleviate the nuisance to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15