To appoint a Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cllr Luxton be appointed Chairman of the Licensing Panel Sub Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

None received.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Cllr Wilson declared a personal interest as he was aware that the applicant was a member of the Conservative Party.

To note the Licensing Panel Sub Committee Procedures.

The Chairman explained the procedure for the meeting. All present indicated that they understood the procedure.

To consider an application for a new Premises Licence under The Licensing

Act 2003 for Drink Superstore Ltd, 49a St Marks Road, Maidenhead, SL6

6DP.

Licensing Officer

The Licensing Officer, Steve Smith, introduced the application for Members to consider. The Licensing Officer explained that the application related to a new Premises License to permit the sale of alcohol on and off the premises at 49a St Marks Road, Maidenhead SL6 6DP between the hours of 10am-10pm Monday-Sunday. The premises in question was a café that operated from 6am-10pm Monday-Sunday.

The Licensing Officer explained that no representations had been made by any of the responsible authorities except for Thames Valley Police, who had requested to a number of conditions relating to CCTV monitoring being added to the operating schedule. If these were agreed then Thames Valley Police would not object to the application. The Licensing Officer stated that the terms of the conditions were acceptable to the applicant. The Panel was informed that the Council had received six objections to the application.

The Licensing Officer explained that the application site was on the corner of St Marks Road and Orchard Grove, a residential cul-de-sac. The site had previously been used as a convenience store but this had been demolished and a new building consisting of a café on the ground floor and basement and flats above it had been erected in its place. The Licensing Officer confirmed that he had visited the premises in question. He reminded Members that although the application requested the sale of alcohol, under the terms of the Deregulation Act the applicant would also be at liberty to have live entertainment at the café should he wish. The Licensing Officer reminded Members that they should have consideration for the four licensing objectives when making their decision on whether to permit the application as requested, permit but with conditions, or to reject the application.

Questions to the Licensing Officer

Cllr Hunt asked if the application related to the area immediately outside the premises. The Licensing Officer stated that the licence applied for was just for the inside of the building. Responding to a question from the Chairman, the Licensing Officer stated that the conditions requested by Thames Valley Police would be added to the operating schedule along with RBWM’s mandatory provisions. The Licensing Officer confirmed that it would be an offence for the applicant to sell alcohol outside the property, but that it would be lawful for a customer to purchase alcohol inside and then consume it off the premises.

Applicant’s case

The applicant stated that the Licensing Officer had summed up the history of the site and its current usage well. He stated that there was table space for around 45 people in the café, both in the basement and on the ground floor. The applicant stated that it had always been the intention for a licensed premises to be included in the redevelopment of the site as a replacement for the convenience store.

The applicant informed the Panel that Drink Superstore had been trading for ten years and last year had a turnover in excess of £900,000. He stated that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.