Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor D G Cronk.

It was noted that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillor M J Ovenden had been appointed as substitute members for Councillor D G Cronk.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

The Sub-Committee is requested to determine the application.

Applicant:   Co-operative Group Food Limited

The following papers are attached.

(i)         Licensing Team Leader’s report.

(ii)        Appendix A – Application and plan.

(iii)       Appendix B – Map of the area.

(iv)       Appendix C - Copies of representations.

(v)        Appendix D – Additional information provided by the applicant.

The procedure to be followed by the Sub-Committee is attached to this agenda.

The sub-committee considered an application from Co-operative Food Store in respect of Co-op, Ground Floor Retail Unit (former Buckland Mill), Crabble Hill, Dover CT17 0FA. The application was for a premises licence for a convenience store which would be selling groceries, sundry items and alcohol for consumption off the premises as follows:

Supply of Alcohol (for consumption off the premises)

On the basis of the representations of the applicant’s representatives, and other persons, the sub-committee found the following facts to be established:

(i)            There had been no representations made by any of the Responsible Authorities, including the Police.

(ii)           One representation was received from Dover Town Council (DTC) who stated that people who purchase alcohol early were more likely to drink in public places and become intoxicated. This would cause street crime, including anti-social behaviour and public order offences. They also stated that the premises [the Co-op] was in close proximity to a number of schools, putting children at risk and that selling alcohol before 09:00 hrs was deeply inappropriate.

(iii)         Mr Precious added that the main bus stop for schools was in the vicinity of the premises and that street drinkers were known to gather around that area and around the dis-used toilet blocks across the road.

(iv)         A list of licensed premises in the vicinity of the application site provided by Mr Precious at the hearing was accepted by all parties. The Licensing Team Leader advised that some of the licensed hours were incorrect and corrected the hours accordingly. It was noted that the nearest licensed premises, that being Crabble Post Office and Store, 1 Buckland Avenue, Dover, was licensed from 06:00 – 23:00 hrs every day and was not included on the list provided by Mr Precious.

(v)          It was suggested by Mr Arnott that the crime statistics provided by DTC were an unreliable source of evidence in support of the objection. There were no details of the crimes nor was it known whether the same crime had been reported more than once.

(vi)         Mr Arnott advised that the premises would be a convenience store with ancillary alcohol sales and would not be a dedicated off-licence. Alcohol sales would equate to only 15% of the store’s turnover.

(vii)        Staff would be required to complete a comprehensive and thorough training programme prior to being able to serve alcohol and would receive two refresher training sessions a year. There would be a Challenge 25 policy in place, till prompts to remind staff to check for customers’ age/I.D and there would be up to three personal licence holders at the premises. Staff under the age of 18 would require another member of staff to authorise the alcohol sale. In addition, there would be a risk manager that would oversee the premises and monitor trends in alcohol sales and refusals.

(viii)       Alcohol would be kept away from main doors, located at the rear of the store with spirits located behind the till counter.

(ix)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.