Agenda and minutes

(Director of Governance) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made pursuant to the Member’s Code of Conduct.

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business.

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report and appendix.

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors M Sartin, D Dorrell and P Keska.

The Chairman introduced the Members and Officers present and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application. The Chairman welcomed the applicant, Mrs J Eastwood-Smith.

(a)          The application before the Sub-Committee

The Licensing Compliance Officer, N Clark introduced the application. The application had been made by Mrs Eastwood-Smith for a Premises Licence for Liquorice, 153 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, for the supply of alcohol, between the hours of 10am to 10pm. The authority had received the application on 5^th April 2016.

All responsible authorities had been notified and the Licensing Authority had received responses from Essex Police, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, Safeguarding Children Family Operations and the EFDC Environment and Neighbourhoods, all of which have made no representations.  One objection had been received from a local resident in relation the prevention of public nuisance.

Essex Police had asked for an amendment to a condition in relation to the CCTV operation and this was agreed by the applicant.

(b)          Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

The applicant Mrs Eastwood-Smith advised the Sub-Committee that she had a similar business in Shenfield. This would operate as a fine wine merchant; selling fine wines, sprit and related products. They would discourage the younger drinker as they did not sell the cheaper wines and alco-pops. She had never experienced any problems at her other store.

She did not intend to use the hours asked for and would operate  from 11am to 7pm on weekdays and between 11am to 8pm on the weekends.

They would also hold wine tasting events at the premises for about  6 to 8 customers as their staff were also experts in wine.

(c)          Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

Councillor Dorrell asked how often would the wine tasting events be held. He was told that it would be once or twice a week. They would not go on late into the evening because of their trading hours.

Councillor Sartin asked if the wine tasting would go on later than the closing hours she had stated. She was told that it may go on until 9pm; usually starting at 7.30pm up to 9pm.

Councillor Keska asked if the applicant would be in attendance at this premises. He was told that the applicant had a manager and staff to work there but she would be there part of the time.

Councillor Keska then asked why had her personal licence been issued in Chelmsford. He was told that she initially had a business there.

Councillor Sartin asked who the personal Licence holder would be and she was told that all the staff would be licence holders.

Councillor Keska asked the applicant to confirm that she had agreed to implement the suggested Police Conditions on the CCTV. Mrs Eastwood-Smith replied that she had agreed to implement these conditions.

(d)          Closing Statement from the Applicant

The Applicant advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.