Agenda and draft minutes

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

Councillor McDonald was elected Chairperson for this meeting.

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.

It is recommended that the Panel exclude the press and public from the meeting during the consideration of exempt Appendix A and 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 7, and consideration of the exempt appendix in respect of agenda item 7, because consideration of this matter in public would disclose information falling within paragraphs 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as specified in agenda item 6 (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.

An application has been received from Kent Police for an Expedited Review of the premises licence at Kent Quick Mart, 35 Knights Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9DT, as the premises have been associated with serious crime and disorder.

The Interim steps were agreed at a hearing held on 6 February 2025 where it was determined that the premises licence would be immediately suspended, pending the full review hearing, which is the matter before the Panel.

All responsible authorities have been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003.

Discussion:

The Licensing Officer informed that Panel that an application had been received on 4 February 2025 for an expedited review for Kent Quick Mart, 35 Knights Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent ME3 9DT due to the premises being associated with serious crime and disorder.

The Panel were informed that an expedited review hearing was held on 6 February 2025 where interim steps had been taken and the premises licence had been suspended with immediate effect pending the full review hearing.

The Panel considered further information from Kent Police and the Agent representing the Premises Licence Holder and proposed new Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) in closed session.

With the exception of the Legal Representative and the Democratic Services Officer, all present left the room during the Panel’s deliberations, returning to hear the Panel’s decision.

Decision:

The Licensing Committee having heard written and oral representations from all parties attending have decided to continue the interim suspension of the premises licence of Kent Quick Mart, 35 Knights Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent ME3 9DT until 25 March 2025.

The suspension of the premises licence has been continued until 25 March 2025 to allow time for the DPS variation to take place, for all breaches of the premises licence to be rectified, for all staff to be trained in conflict management and to allow time for a compliance visit by the Licensing Team to take place.

If the compliance visit confirms that that DPS variation is complete, the training has taken place and all breaches have been rectified then the premises licence will be reinstated after 25 March 2025 with the following conditions added to it:

• From 18:00 to 24:00 Monday to Sunday, a personal licence holder must be on site at all times.

• Any incidents of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour must be reported to the Police immediately when they are taking place.