Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report.

The Chairman welcomed the participants and requested that they introduce themselves to the Sub-Committee. In attendance on behalf of the application were: Mr Demirtas, the Manager of the NISA Local store at Borders Lane in Loughton; Mr C Zedek and Mr G Hopkins, Agents for the Applicant. The Chairman then introduced the Members and Officers present, and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application.

The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Licensing Enforcement Officer informed the Sub-Committee that an application to vary a Premises Licence had been received in respect of the NISA Local store at 66 – 70 Borders Lane in Loughton, along with representations from interested parties. The application had requested permission to:

            (a)        incorporate number 66 Borders Lane within the Premises as a         licensed area; and

            (b)        allow the Premises to open between 7.00am and 11.00pm on          Mondays to Saturdays and 7.00am to 10.30pm on Sundays.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer stated that Essex Police had suggested a number of additional conditions to be applied to the Licence, which the Applicant had agreed, as well as objections to the Application from Loughton Town Council, District Cllr C Roberts, and one local resident. However, Loughton Town Council had withdrawn its objections to the Application after the agenda for the meeting had been published.

Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

Mr Hopkins stated that the units at 68 and 70 Borders Lane constituted the current Premises; the Applicant had acquired the lease for the neighbouring unit at 66 Borders Lane and wanted to include this unit within the licensed area for the new layout of the Premises. The Applicant also wished to open for an extra hour in the morning, from 7.00am not 8.00am, but there was no changes requested to the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol.

Mr Hopkins explained that the Applicant had owned and run these premises for four years. Essex Police had offered a number of conditions to be included on the Licence regarding the installation of CCTV, the implementation of Challenge 25 and staff training, which the Applicant had agreed to and Essex Police had subsequently withdrawn their objections. Loughton Town Council had also withdrawn their objections following the publication of the agenda.

Mr Hopkins highlighted that the representations concerning the closure of the Newsagents and Bakers (which was consequently converted into a large café) and the parking issues in the local vicinity were not part of the Licensing Act 2003 and consequently not relevant to the consideration of this application.

Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, Mr Hopkins confirmed that 66 Borders Lane was originally a separate retail unit, but since acquiring the lease to this unit, the Applicant had brought these previously vacant Premises into use with the existing shop premises at 68 and 70 Borders Lane. The Applicant had sought Building Regulations approval for the changes made to the three retail units.

Mr Hopkins also confirmed that the Applicant was content to include the retention of CCTV recordings for a period of 31 days within the conditions for the Prevention of Crime and Disorder, as suggested by Essex Police in their representation.

Mr Hopkins also clarified that the current extent of the licensed Premises was 68 and 70 Borders Lane, and the application sought to add 66 Borders Lane to the existing, adjacent licensed Premises.

Applicant’s Closing Statement

Mr Hopkins had no additional comments to make and requested that the Sub-Committee grant the application.

Consideration of the Application by the Sub-Committee

The Sub-Committee left the Council Chamber to consider the application.

The Sub-Committee received no advice from its Officers during their consideration of the application.

The Sub-Committee returned to the Council Chamber and the Chairman informed the participants of its decision.

Decision:

(1)        That the application to vary a Premises Licence for the NISA Local store at 66 – 70 Borders Lane, Loughton be granted, subject to the conditions contained within the application.