To appoint a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

Councillor Brar proposed Councillor Haseler to be Chair for the duration for the meeting. This was seconded by Councillor Luxton.

AGREED: That Councillor Haseler be Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were receive.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Councillor Brar declared that she was a licensee within the Borough.

To note the procedural details for the meeting.

All parties present noted the procedures.

To consider an application for a new premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

Craig Hawkings, Reporting Officer for RBWM, introduced the report to the Sub-Committee: consideration of an application made for a premises licence for 5 Winkfield Road, Ascot, SL5 7LX. He explained that the purpose of the hearing was for the Sub-Committee to hear the application, received written and oral representations from other parties, and then to make the decision in respect to the application.

Craig Hawkings explained that the application was to licence a convenience store with the following activities:

·       Supply of alcohol ON & Off the premises Monday to Sunday 07:00–23:00

·       Hours premises are open Monday to Sunday 07:00–23:00

Craig Hawkings stated that the designated premises supervisor (DPS) was the applicant, Mr Honey Singh, and the application was advertised in accordance with statutory regulations. He also listed the four licensing objectives which were set out in the Licensing Act 2003:

·       Prevention of crime and disorder

·       Public safety

·       Prevention of public nuisance

·       Protection of children from harm.

Craig Hawkings stated that there were no representations received from any of the responsible authorities that had consulted on the application for the 28-day consultation period, though there had been agreed conditions between the Applicant and Thames Valley Police. However, the application did receive 17 representations of objection from other persons.

Craig Hawkings informed that the application did fall slightly outside of RBWM’s recommended opening hours, with the opening hours being 2 hours earlier at 7:00-23:00 rather than the recommended 9:00-23:00.

Craig Hawkings then stated that the application would have been granted under his delegated powers if it did not receive representations of objection.

Craig Hawkings then presented the Sub-Committee’s options:

·       Reject the application.

·       Grant the application but modify the activities and/or the hours and/or the conditions of the licence.

·       Grant the application.

He reminded the Sub-Committee that they had a duty to behave impartially and that their decision must be based on the evidence that had been presented to them.

The Chair asked for clarification on whether alcohol would be served on the premises. Craig Hawkings replied that the Applicant could apply for that, but it was up to them.

Councillor Brar asked how long the store had been on the premises. Craig Hawkings answered that there had been previous shops beforehand, but it was currently not the convenience store of the application.

The Chair asked if the premises could be changed from the previous existing retail store into a convenience store without an alcohol licence or if the Applicant required additional authorisation or approval, stating the reason that the Sub-Committee had convened due to the application of an alcohol licence. Based on what he knew, Craig Hawkings replied that if the application was to establish a shop that did not sell licensable products (e.g., alcohol), then the Sub-Committee would not need to convene, and the Applicant would not be required to apply for a premises licence. Roxana Khakinia, Legal Officer, informed the change of use was a planning issue and not a licencing matter, and that the reason for the Sub-Committee was because  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.