Agenda and minutes

          Resolved – That Councillor Alan Bishop Chair this meeting of the Panel.

(Councillor Bishop took the Chair.)

To receive the minutes of the meetings held on 21^st and 27^th May 2015.

          Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings held on 21^st and 27^th May 2015 be confirmed and signed.

The Panel considered (a) a report of the Council’s Licensing Manager setting out details of an application for a Premises Licence for 36 Trevello Road, Swindon, SN1 7BZ, (b) written representations from Mrs Elizabeth Bridges (local resident) opposing the application, (c) written representations from the applicant supporting her application for a Premises Licence, (d) a written submission supporting the application received from Councillor Nadine Watts (Ward Councillor), (e) oral submissions opposing the application received from Mr and Mr Bridges (local residents), (f) questions from Members to the objectors and answers received, and (g) the Council’s procedure for licensing hearings, the Secretary of State’s Guidance and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Council’s Licensing Officer advised the Panel that the applicant, Miss Karenjit Samra was unable to attend the hearing as she was currently working at a family shop in Sheffield in order to broaden her experience.

          The written submission from the applicant in support of her application can be broadly summarised as follows:

·       The application was for a convenience store with alcohol as part of the operation.

·       She had completed the personal licence accredited qualification and held a personal licence.

·       Her family had run licensed stores for a number of years and she was conversant with her responsibilities as a licence holder and proprietor of a store.

·       All staff would be trained in a Challenge 25 Policy which would be operated at the store and to use a refusals book which would be maintained and available for inspection at the store.

·       CCTV would be operated at the store and youth congregations at the site would not be permitted.

·       Although she preferred to be able to sell alcohol from 06:00 to 00:00 midnight daily she would offer the hours of 07:00 to 23:00 daily for the sale of alcohol.  The hours specified were intended to allow customers to buy alcohol with their shopping throughout the day and in order to allow for the success of the store.

·       The purpose of the store was to offer a wide range of products and that the sale of alcohol was a primary part of the sales strategy.

In response to questions relating to the application the Council’s Licensing Officer confirmed that:

·      The applicant had experience working in Licensed Premises.

·     Officers had no knowledge of problems occurring at stores owned by the applicant’s family.

·     The store had residential properties to both sides. There were additional residential properties being constructed over the road.

·      Whilst the applicant, Miss Karenjit Samra, was currently working in Sheffield at a family store, it was her intention to move back to Swindon to manage the store at 36 Trevello Road.

·     The hours of operation requested by the applicant were not unique in Swindon.

Points and issues raised by objectors included but were not limited to the following:

·       The hours of operation requested were not appropriate for a store adjoining residential properties on both sides.

·       The hours of operation requested would be detrimental to local residents and the applicant confirmed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.