Agenda and minutes

To receive an Application for the review of a Premises Licence.

The Chair introduced the Sub-Committee and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Outline of the Application by the Licensing Officer.

The Licensing Officer outlined the application for a review of a Premises Licencein respect of Bargain Booze, Unit 11, Limehurst Square, Duston, Northampton, NN6 6LP.  The Application was submitted by PC David Bryan representing Northamptonshire Police and related to events between 16 July 2010 and 18 January 2011.  The application for a review was submitted on the grounds of one of the Licensing Objectives contained within the Licensing Act 2003; -

1)     The prevention of crime and disorder; and

2)     The protection of Children from Harm.

The Licensing Officer then explained the procedure for the hearing.

Application for the Review of a Premises Licence

PC Dave Bryan, the Applicant, informed the Sub-Committee that Northamptonshire Police had applied for the review in relation the premises not meeting the Licensing Objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of Children from Harm.  Evidence was provided in the form of two test purchase operations where Mr Patel sold alcohol to minors.  There was a further incident on 18 January 2011 where a Community Support Officer (PCSO) witnessed the sale of alcohol to a minor.  It was confirmed that on this occasion the customer had been asked for identification and a driving licence was provided which stated the minor was 16 years old.  The minor did not give a statement and a Penalty Notice was enforced.  Mr Jayeshkumar Patel was not interviewed on this incident but this incident was an additional reason as to why a review of Licence had been applied for.  The e-mail regarding the incident and included in the agenda pack was noted as additional evidence to the two official test purchase sales.

Questions to the Applicant

Ms Gill Sherratt wished to question how incidents noted in the e-mail and relating to Mr Patel and had been backed up with evidence in order for the Sub-Committee to give this appropriate weight.  It was confirmed that there was information and logs on the Northamptonshire Policesystem.  This had been obtained from Street Surgeries and from concerned residents.  No evidence of this had been offered to the Sub-Committee as the Application was based on the three sales to minors and that additional information was provided to give weight and substance to those three sales.  PC Bryan did agree that if the Application had been raised purely based on this incident Northamptonshire Police would have included evidence in regard of the incident, and it was confirmed that the Sub-Committee could give whatever weight they deemed necessary to this information as the application was based on the three incidents in total.

Representation by the Representors

Ms Sherratt, acting for Mr Patel, wished to note how Mr Patel had owned the business since 2010 and had been a Premises Licence holder for many years previous to that.  She stated that Mr Patel worked on the premises 15 hours a day,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.