The Sub Committee are to consider an application for a new premises licence at One Stop, 4 Brockenhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9DL to be granted under the licensing act 2003.

Craig Hawkings, Licensing Team Leader, outlined the report to the members of the sub-committee, which included the difference in opening hours between the summary page and the ones outlined in the report. This was due to a change in hours that had been offered by the applicant prior to the hearing. The new hours being applied for were as followed:

·       Supply of alcohol off the premises – Monday to Sunday 06:00 – 22:00

·       Hours premises are open – Monday to Sunday 06:00 – 22:00

Craig Hawkings then reminded all parties what the four licensing objectives were of the Royal Borough.

The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) was Mrs Lisa Fernley.

Objections had been received from 8 persons, who were notified of the hearing however declined the invitation to attend. The last day of representations was Tuesday 4 July 2023. If no objections had been received, then the license would have been given as applied for by the Local Authority.

Councillor K. Singh asked if the change in opening hours in the morning from the framework hours of 09:00 to 06:00 was normal. Craig Hawkings stated that there was no reason for this and that it was not an uncommon practice, so was perfectly acceptable.

Hardish Purewal introduced their case to the sub-committee members. They provided a brief explanation of One-Stop and how it was situated. There would be a limited range of between 2,000 and 3,000 products on offer, showcasing its limited size. Alcohol would therefore be a minimal amount of this. There would be roles on offer in the premises for the local community, which would enhance the job opportunities there for local residents, who would be offered preferential opportunities. Hardish Purewal said that the premises wished to be out there within the local community and if any issues were to arise within the local community, then Debie Pearmain, Thames Valley Police, would be liaised with as they worked closely together.

Hardish Purewal said that there would be good training on offer to staff. This would be for multiple different elements when it came to a store, including training on the Challenge 25 policy. Refresher training would be on offer too, along with conflict training and instructions on how to spot if a person looked drunk. Hardish Purewal then explained how the premises would use the Challenge 25 policy, including specific processes that would occur on the physical till. In terms of security, cameras would be installed and linked to a central system along with panic alarms. Spirits would be behind the counter, out of reach of customers.

Hardish Purewal then wished to respond to some of the representations that had been received from residents, that related specifically to the four licensing objectives. She said that the store would try their best to move persons away from the green space and that no alcohol would be sold to already intoxicated persons. Thames Valley Police had also confirmed that there was no evidence of anti-social behaviour in the area too, however this would always be monitored and acted upon. The closing hours had been reduced from 00:00 to 22:00 hours, based on feedback from local residents.

Councillor K. Singh asked if the trading hours would be 7 days a week of 06:00 to 22:00 and that the Sunday trading hours did not apply due to it being a smaller store? This was confirmed by Hardish Purewal

Councillor Wilson asked about large delivery vehicles and how the applicant would manage this. The Chair said that this could potentially cross over onto the planning application stage and therefore fell out of the sub-committee’s remit. Hardish Purewal confirmed this but stated that the premises would of course do their best to minimise disruption to the local community.

The Chair then clarified that the application that was before the sub-committee members was simply for the provision of selling alcohol at the premises and did not cover other things such as vaping and e-cigarettes, that had been asked by Councillor Wilson.

Hardish Purewal summarised by stating that the business was excellent along with its history, and that there had been no evidence presented that they believed was enough to suggest that they should not be granted the premises license as applied for.

Craig Hawkings outlined the options that were on offer to the Sub-Committee Members:

a) Reject the application.

b) Refuse to specify a person in the licence as the premise’s supervisor; (*Note – not all of these will be relevant to this particular application)

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

d) Grant the application.

During the deliberations, it was discussed that although the sub-committee sympathised with the persons who made objections, many of these were more related to planning & did not necessarily affect the 4 licensing objectives of the authority.

Having taken all written representations into account, the sub-committee saw no extenuating circumstances that would suggest that any of the four licensing objectives would be breached, that would suggest for them to not grant the application as applied for along with the condition that had been offered by the applicant which was to reduce the closing hours to 22:00 hours from 00:00 hours, Monday – Sunday.