Agenda and minutes

            Resolved – That Councillor Andrew Bennett be Chair of this meeting of the Panel.

(Councillor Bennett took the Chair.)

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th, 13^th and 27^th July and 3^rd and 9^th August, 2012.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings held on 5^th, 13^th and 27^th July and 3^rd and 9^th August 2012, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

            The Panel considered (a) a report of the Council’s Licensing Officer setting out a request from Trading Standards for a review of the Premises Licence for the Stratton Community Store, 14/18 Rainer Close, Swindon, following a failed test purchase at the premises, (b) oral representations from Trading Standards Officers in support of their application for review, (c)  representatives from Mr. Peter Riddle (Solicitor to Stratton Community Store) and Mr. Jatin Pandya (Premises Licence Holder) opposing the review, (d) questions from Members to both parties and the answers received, and (e) the Council’s procedure for licensing hearings, Government Guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.             

            Resolved  - After considering: -

The application to review the licence made by the Trading Standards Officers; and representations and material put forward on behalf of the Licensee on their own behalf and those of their Solicitor;

And taking into account: -

The Secretary of State’s Guidance; and

The Licensing Authority Licensing Statement:

And having in mind the promotion of the Licensing Objectives in particular: -

The Protection of Children from Harm;

The Panel determined the following: -

That, having considered the evidence and representations before it, the steps taken by management to ensure full compliance with the Licensing Objectives following the failed test purchase and the seriousness this Panel places on the sale of alcohol to minors, the Panel determines that (a) the premises licence held by the  Stratton Community Store, 14/18 Rainer Close,  Swindon, be amended to include the additional conditions set out below, and (b) that the premises licence be suspended for a period of  1 week, to take effect 21 days from the date of this hearing  to allow management  to ensure all staff have been trained regarding underage sales, the use of the shop’s CCTV system, the maintenance of refusals records and to ensure they can provide written and CCTV records to appropriate officers and Wiltshire Constabulary upon request.

 Reason

The reason given by the Licensing Authority for its decisions to impose additional conditions and to suspend is that it was necessary to put in place these measures in order to secure compliance with the Licensing Objectives and in particular the protection of children from harm objective and to ensure all staff are properly trained.

Additional Conditions 

1. A single refusal book be kept and shall be completed in consecutive order. The log shall be reviewed upon completion of each page of the numbered refusals book or on a monthly basis, whichever is the shorter period of time, and the review shall be recorded. On identification of any trends, training needs shall be reassessed. The log shall be available for inspection by Authorised Officers or Wiltshire Constabulary at any reasonable hour.

Reason

To ensure staff are complying with their training requirements and in order to ensure compliance with the Licensing Objectives.

2. All staff shall be given formal training on age-restricted sales every three months, including watching the SWERCOTS training  (or its replacement or equivalent).  A training record shall be kept and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.