Agenda and minutes

The Panel is requested to elect a Chairperson for the hearing in line with rules agreed by the Licensing and Safety Committee. 

The Panel elected Councillor Browne as Chairperson for this hearing in line with the rules agreed by the Licensing and Safety Committee.

There were none.

To agree that the Chairperson, after consultation with the other members of the Panel, sign the record of this meeting outside the meeting. 

It was agreed that the Chairperson, after consultation with the other members of the Panel, would sign the record of this meeting outside the meeting.

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 5.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

The applicant has applied for a new Premise Licence for Canterbury St Food Centre & Supermarket, 162-164 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5UB.

All responsible authorities have been consulted in line with the Licensing Act.

Representations have been received from the Public Health team, Kent Police and a member of public. No agreements have been reached.

Discussion:

The Chairperson explained the process that the hearing would follow as outlined on page 4 of the agenda.

The Licensing Officer informed the Panel that the applicant had applied for a new Premise Licence for Canterbury St Food Centre and Supermarket, 162-164 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5UB.  All responsible authorities had been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and representations had been received from Public Health, Kent Police and a member of the public.  These documents could be found in Appendix B, C and D of the report and in the supplementary agenda no 1.

As the applicant was unavailable and did not attend the hearing due to another meeting with a supplier, the Prosecutions, Litigation and Licensing Lawyer asked the agent, the applicant’s representative, if he had received authorisation from the applicant to speak on his behalf and that he understood the objectives of the Licensing Hearing Panel.  The agent confirmed that he was there as the applicant’s representative and understood the objectives of the Licensing Hearing Panel.

The Chairperson invited the applicant’s representative to speak in support of their application.  The agent explained that the applicant understood the licensing objectives and had put in place internal and external controls with regards to the selling of alcohol.  He clarified that the applicant adhered to the Challenge 25 policy and identification checks were requested and a regular  training programme would be introduced.  

The agent said that they would limit the purchase of alcohol for younger people and people that appeared to be drunk, and they would not sell alcohol that was above 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) for beer and 10% ABV for wine. 

The Chairperson asked the objectors if they had questions for the applicant, the Public Health representative asked why in the application form, there was no mention of the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) which was readily available on the Medway Council website.  The agent said the applicant had read and understood the CIP, although could not show any understanding of the issues set out in the policy.  

The Panel questioned the agent and asked what the four licensing objectives were and what would the applicant do to prevent these objectives, the agent was unable to respond.

The agent confirmed that the applicant had two more stores in North London, however, had no other businesses in Medway.  He explained that at least six people would be employed to work in the shop during the opening hours, which were 6am to midnight, Monday to Sunday.

The objectors were then given the opportunity to express their concerns.  Kent Police had submitted objections to all four of the licensing objectives as set out on page 37 to 42 in the agenda.

Public Health had submitted objections to two of the licensing objectives as set out on page 27 to 35 in the agenda.

The Panel asked whether additional premises selling alcohol would add to the litter problems within the area, the Public Health representative said she considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

It is recommended that the Panel exclude the press and public from the meeting during the decision-making process for the reasons set out in the report.

Decision:

The press and public were excluded from the meeting during the Panel’s deliberations and decision making in respect of agenda item 6, because consideration of this matter in public would disclosure information falling within paragraph  5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as specified in agenda item 7 (Exclusion of the Press and Public) and, in all the circumstances of the case, the Panel considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.