Agenda and minutes

Councillor Bardoe was proposed, seconded and duly elected Chairman of the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive declarations of interest from Members including the terms(s) of the Grant of Dispensation (if any) by the Audit Board or Managing Director.

Ms. Cotton, the legal advisor to the Sub-Committee, reported that one of the objectors to the application had been employed in administrative roles by the Council in Legal Services and subsequently the Mayor’s office. but had left the authority several years ago,

The Chairman reported that there were no urgent items for the Sub -Committee to consider.

The Chairman introduced Members present and called upon others present to identify themselves.  He then explained to the parties that the Sub-Committee intended to follow the procedure detailed in the Licensing Sub-Committee Rules of Procedure, circulated as item 6 to the agenda.

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Licensing Manager, presented by the Enforcement & Regulatory Services Manager, setting out details of an application for the grant of a new Premises Licence received from LiDL Stores[SC1] .

The report also set out details a number of conditions proposed by the Licencing Authority and by the Police which had been agreed by the applicant.

Licensing Officers informed the Sub-Committee that objections to the application had been received both from local residents and local Ward Councillors, but that no objections had been received from any other Responsible Authorities .

The Chairman then introduced Ms[SC2]  Amanda Pillinger who was representing the applicant.

Ms Pillinger  highlighted the conditions as set out in the Operating Conditions (pages 23 and 24 of the agenda) as well as the additional conditions that had agreed by the applicant in consultation with the Police, She also summarised the concerns that had been raised by the objectors.

Ms Pillinger informed the Sub-Committee that the applicant was a responsible retailer who believed in engaging with the local community and with local residents.

She stressed that the company undertook extensive staff training relating to the sale of alcohol and that this encompassed the following

·         The “Challenge 25” initiative

·         The identification and elimination of proxy purchases

·         The identification of and refusal to serve street drinkers

·         Conflict Management

Staff were required to complete this training every 6 months, and signed an Alcohol Policy Register to acknowledge that the training had been received and that they understood the need to comply. The company’s training programmes were kept up to date with any new developments, such as the introduction of Drinkaware scheme, and disciplinary action was taken against staff who breached the company’s policies.

It was noted that duty managers were responsible for refusing the sale of alcohol to any potential customer, rather than cashiers, and that this reduced the incidence of conflict over this issue. All duty managers would either hold a personal licence, or be working towards obtaining such a licence.

Ms Pillinger confirmed that displays of alcohol would be confined to a section of the store distant from the entrance, although there may be some seasonal displays of alcohol elsewhere in the store, such as during the Christmas period. These displays would not be next to the entrance to the store. The far aisle that was normally used to display alcohol would be covered by the store’s CCTV systems, and would also be adjacent to a cashier’s desk that would be permanently manned whilst the store was open. The cashier could therefore keep watch over that aisle in between serving customers. It was noted that cashiers were not subject to any targets as to the volume of items sold, which could otherwise distract them from such duties.

It was noted that there had been objections relating to deliveries to the store and pedestrian access via Gordon Road, but these were  matters controlled by planning conditions.

Ms Pillinger explained that the applicant is a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.