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.

Councillor Sands gave his apologies and Councillor Browne as the fourth member stepped in as a Panel member.

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 Asankabites Ltd, 106 High Street, Strood, Rochester following the submission of representations, received during the consultation period.

Discussion:

The Chairperson asked those present to introduce themselves.

The Licensing Officer informed the Panel that the applicant had applied for a new Premises Licence for Asankabites Ltd, 106 High Street, Strood, Rochester ME2 4TR. 

All responsible authorities had been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003, and a representation had been received from a member of the public. Conditions regarding CCTV and training had been agreed with Kent Police.

The application was for:

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On and Off Sales)

Monday to Saturday               10:00 to 22:00

Sunday                                    12:00 to 20:00

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

The applicant explained that the premises would be a new restaurant selling African food and that the licence was to compliment the food sold to the public and the sale of alcohol was not intended to be the main business.

The applicant informed the Panel that the aim was to open and sell alcohol from Tuesday to Sunday 12pm to 10pm and these times had been amended since the original application was submitted.

Kent Police had contacted the applicant regarding conditions on CCTV and training, these had been accepted and CCTV and a training programme for staff had been put in place.

With regards to fire safety, a fire risk assessment was not yet completed due to ongoing building works but would take place when the premises were fully operational.

The applicant said that the objector had raised concerns regarding noise, anti-social behaviour and waste. The applicant explained that there were no plans for loud music. The applicant informed the Panel that they already operated a shop nearby and they had spoken to neighbouring restaurants and was not aware of any anti-social behaviour regarding alcohol sales. With regards to waste, the applicant explained that weekly collections would be in place and rubbish would not cause a problem for the local community.

The Panel questioned the applicant and confirmed that hours required had been amended to 12pm to 10pm and that there was no intention to sell alcohol from 10am with breakfast.

In response to a query about when the premises was due to open, the applicant confirmed that the building works were due to be finished in the first week of December and it was hoped to open the premises before Christmas.

The applicant’s understanding of the Cumulative Impact Policy and Strood Stress Area was queried. The applicant explained that measures and training had been put in place to ensure that there would not be any misconduct on the premises.

The requirement for off sales was queried and the applicant stated that this had been included to cover zero percent alcohol beverages and energy drinks that would be ordered with food and that there would not be any off sales of alcohol.

In summing up the applicant explained that neighbours should not be concerned as the premises would be operated following strict protocols and the requirements of the Police and fire safety.

With the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 440.

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 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.