There were no apologies for absence.

No interests were declared at the meeting.

The sub-committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) regarding an application by Ms Priya Mathew for the grant of a Premises Licence at 69 High Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1HZ.

The application was presented by the Applicant’s Solicitor, Mr Murrell.  Ms Priya Mathew (Applicant) was also in attendance at the hearing and gave evidence.

The sub-committee noted that letters of objection had been received from the Licensing Authority, in its capacity as a responsible authority, and from Essex Police.  Mr D Colewell and Ms K Drain of the Essex Police Licensing Unit attended the hearing and gave evidence.  The Licensing Authority had subsequently withdrawn its objection following an amendment to the application by the Applicant which reduce the hours the premises were open to public and the hours when the sale of alcohol would be permitted.

The sub-committee also noted that amendments to the proposed conditions drawn from the operating schedule had been agreed between Essex Police and the Applicant should the application be granted.  Two conditions that had been proposed by the Police were however, not agreed by the Applicant.  These related to the proposed prohibition on the sale of beers and ciders with an alcohol by volume content above 6.5% and for all beer and ciders in cans (500ml or less) to be sold in a minimum pack of 4.

The Applicant’s Solicitor contested that these two conditions were disproportionate, unfair and overly burdensome and that there was no evidence presented by the Police to support the need for these conditions in relation to this application. He also stated that there were other premises in close proximity that had longer and later licensed hours and did not have these restrictions.

The Police Licensing Unit stated that these premises are located within a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) prohibiting consumption of alcohol in this area, where there were prolific offences of anti-social behaviour and street drinking.  There were two large retailers in close proximity to the Applicant’s premises who had voluntarily accepted these conditions in an attempt to reduce such problems.

The sub-committee listened to all the evidence and submissions, and read all the documents.  It had regard to the Statutory Guidance Notes and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The sub-committee further considered the four licensing objectives namely the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

On the basis of the evidence presented to it, the sub-committee did not consider that the promotion of the licensing objectives would be undermined by the granting of this application.  It also accepted the evidence submitted by the Police Licensing Unit that conditions must be tailored to the individual type, location and characteristics of the premises and events concerned.  The sub-committee therefore:-

Resolved:-

That the application for the grant of a premises licence at at 69 High Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1HZ be granted, subject to:

1.  The Mandatory Conditions set out in Appendix 1 to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.