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.

To consider a new Premises Licence application for Oceanic Eats X Amala Buka, 1a Cuxton Road, Strood, Rochester following the submission of representations, received during the consultation period.

Discussion:

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

The Assistant Licensing Manager informed the Panel that the applicant had applied for a new Premise Licence for Oceanic Eats X Amala Buka, 1A Cuxton Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2BT.  All responsible authorities had been consulted with the Licensing Act 2003 and representations had been received from three Ward Councillors and Kent Police.

The application was for:

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On and Off Sales) and Late Night Refreshment

Daily 24 hours

Recorded Music and Live Music

Friday and Saturday 20:00 to 03:00

Sunday 20:00 to 01:00

Non-standard timings Easter Monday, 25 and 26 December 20:00 to 02:00

Amended timings and conditions had been agreed with Kent Police on 6 May 2025 and were found in Appendix D.

The Chairperson invited the applicant to speak in support of their application. 

The applicant confirmed that she had met with Kent Police, and they had agreed to amend the licensing hours. CCTV recordings would be provided and closed signs would be displayed when the premises was closed to the public.  Challenge 25 policy would be adhered to.

The Chairperson asked the objector if they had questions for the applicant and the Ward Councillor stated that they welcomed the introduction of new investment to Strood North, however, she was concerned with the opening hours, as it was in excess of the opening hours of other establishments in the local area.

The Ward Councillor showed a map of the premises, which was located on a busy junction and she had health and safety concerns regarding the location.  She explained it could attract more customers, and concern was expressed with people going in and out of the premises.  Outside the premises was a narrow pathway, which if people congregated outside, could cause some people to have to stand in the roadway.

Following a question from the Ward Councillor, the applicant explained that tables were provided for a maximum of 16 people to sit in the restaurant. Customers could also sit down whilst waiting for their take away, however, she did not expect queues of people waiting to either be served or to take their food away.  Delivery drivers would be informed when their take away was ready and they could park near the premises and come in to collect orders.

The applicant confirmed that the opening hours agreed with Kent Police for Friday night until Sunday morning would be for deliveries only up to 03:00.  Alcohol had to be delivered to a designated address from 01:00 to 03:00.  Customers could not order alcohol and stand outside drinking it.

The applicant confirmed that delivery drivers could park close by either at the Cuxton MOT garage, Gunn Lane carpark, Shell Petrol Station and there was also free on street parking nearby.

The Ward Councillor asked how the applicant would deal with anti-social behaviour, if it were to happen either in or just outside the premises?  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To consider a new Premises Licence application for Best Foods Centre, 15-19 New Road, Chatham following the submission of representations received during the consultation period.

Discussion:

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

The Assistant Licensing Manager informed the Panel that the applicant had applied for a new Premise Licence for Best Foods Centre, 15-19 New Road, Chatham ME4 4QJ.  All responsible authorities had been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and representatives had been received from the Public Health team, Kent Police and a member of the public.

The application was for:

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (Off Sales)

Daily 08:00 to 00:00

The Chairperson invited the applicant to speak in support of their application and he explained that Best Foods Centre opened last year.  He explained that customers kept asking when he would be selling alcohol.  He previously had a license to sell alcohol from 2002 to 2024 at different premises.  He knew that other premises in New Road sold alcohol and had not seen any alcohol related incidents in the local area. 

The Chairperson asked the objectors if they had questions for the applicant, PC Smuts, Kent Police, asked the applicant if he knew of the number of alcohol relate crime incidents in the local area within the last five months.  The applicant said no he was not aware.  PC Smuts confirmed there had been 18 alcohol related crime incidents not from his shop.  

Barbara Murray, Public Health asked the applicant what the four licensing objectives were.  

The Panel decided, in consultation with the applicant, to adjourn the hearing so that the applicant could have access to an interpreter or a representative that could attend the rescheduled hearing with the applicant.

Decision:

The Panel agreed to adjourn the application so the applicant could have access to an interpreter.

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 and 7, 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 8 (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.