Agenda and minutes

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

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

There were no declarations of interest received from Members of the sub – committee nor from the Alternative Member.

The Chairman reported that there were no urgent matters for the sub Committee to consider.

The Chairman introduced the 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 5 to the agenda.

The Chairman also explained the role of the Additional Member who would not participate in the meeting unless a Member of the sub - Committee were to withdraw due to a failure in the IT equipment.

The Council’s Licensing Manager introduced her report and explained that Mr Behrouz (the Applicant) had applied for a variation of the Premises Licence for M & B Newsagents, 56 High Street Dartford Kent DA1 1ED, which is situated in Dartford Town Centre and is licensed to sell alcohol for consumption off premises only within specified hours.

The Applicant had originally applied to vary the hours for the sale and supply of alcohol - Monday to Sunday 07.00 to midnight, but had agreed, at the suggestion of Kent Police, to a number of additional conditions and the reduction of the specified hours to Monday to Sunday 07.00 to 23.00, as detailed in the Licensing Officer’s report.

It was noted that the consultation on the proposed variation had not elicited any objections from Responsible Authorities but Councillor Rosanna Currans (Dartford Ward Councillor, and Portfolio holder for High Street Revival and Town Centre) had registered an objection based on the licensing objectives of the prevention of “Crime and Disorder” and “Public Nuisance.”

The Chairman invited the Applicant to explain the application and reasons for its submission. At this point, it became obvious that the Applicant had a limited command of English, and that it would not be appropriate to continue with the meeting without assistance for the Applicant.

Accordingly, the Chairman suspended the meeting, asked the Licensing Manager to liaise with the Applicant to arrange for an interpreter, and agreed with Members that the meeting re - convene at 2.30pm.

At 2.33pm the meeting re - convened and the Applicant was assisted by an interpreter.

It was explained that the Applicant had recently acquired the Premises, and that he was attempting to expand the business of an already busy shop.  This would include expanding the stock carried, re - vitalising the interior of the premises and extending the opening hours for the sale of alcohol.

The Sub - Committee posed a number of questions of the Applicant, through his interpreter. Members sought clarification on the standards of management and the Applicant’s understanding respectively, of his responsibilities to manage a licensed premises and good business practices, to achieve the licensing objectives.  The Applicant was questioned about his training in his responsibilities to manage a licensed premises and good business practices. The Applicant confirmed that he would be operating the Licensed Premises for the majority of the time.

At the conclusion of questions, the Chairman invited Councillor Currans to explain her opposition to the application.

Councillor Currans explained that in her role as Portfolio holder for High Street Revival and Town Centre, she was [MK1] aware of numerous cases where late night disturbances caused by drunkenness had merited action by Kent Police.

She reported that considerable resources were being devoted to make the Town Centre a more pleasant place and improve the night time experience for visitors.

However, it was apparent that young people, intending to visit clubs and venues in the Town Centre, were purchasing and drinking cheap alcohol from local shops in advance of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.