Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for non-attendance.

There were no declarations of interest.

It was noted that PC David Bryan would address the meeting on behalf of Northamptonshire Police, Rita Groves on behalf of the Licensing Authority and Councillor Paul Harley on behalf of Rushden Town Council.

The Chair advised that agenda item 5, Review of the Premises Licence at The Angel Hotel, trading as Decades, Carrington Street, Kettering would be considered first.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer advised the Sub-Committee that a formal request had been received from the Licence Holder to adjourn the hearing as they had not received notification of today’s meeting and were unable to attend and present their case.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the application to review the Premises Licence be adjourned until 10am on Thursday 23 December 2021.

The Licence Holder was not present or represented at the Hearing.  The Senior Democratic Services Officer advised that a number of attempts had been made to contact the Licence Holder which had all been unsuccessful and accordingly the Sub-Committee agreed to consider the application in their absence. 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Hearing and those present introduced themselves.  He explained that the Sub-Committee’s decision-making process would be on the balance of probabilities.

The Health Protection Manager reported that an application for a review of the Premises Licence at International Supermarket had been received on 27 October 2021 from Northamptonshire Police.  The appropriate Blue Notice had been displayed at the premises as required.  The matters for which a review was sought related to the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.  The request for the review related to a joint Northamptonshire Police, Trading Standards and North Northamptonshire (East area) visit where illegal tobacco products were being stored at the premises and an alleged underage sale(s) of alcohol.

Representations had been received from the Licensing Enforcement Officer and Rushden Town Council.

The Chair invited PC David Bryan, to address the Sub-Committee in support of his application.  PC Bryan advised that on 24 July 2021, the Police had received a complaint of an underage sale of alcohol that had taken place at the premises.  As there was little detail to follow up the allegation, the Police used their discretion and judgement and took the decision to monitor the premises.  On 31 August 2021, North Northamptonshire Trading Standards made contact with the Police in relation to a joint visit to the premises as they had received a similar complaint in relation to underage drinking and sales taking place.  On 5 October 2021, a joint visit was conducted and various breaches of the conditions of the Premises Licence were discovered.  During a search of the premises a quantity of non-duty paid cigarettes were discovered and enquiries made with the Immigration Service relating to a male who was in charge of the premises at the time resulted in the discovery that the male, whilst having an outstanding asylum claim, had no right to work.  The review application included a statement from the Trading Standards Officer who had attended the joint visit. The Police were therefore requesting that the Sub-Committee consider revoking the Premises Licence.

The Chair invited Rita Groves, Licensing Enforcement Officer, to address the Sub-Committee in support of her representation.  Mrs Groves confirmed that the joint visit had found five conditions of the Premises Licence being breached.  She had also been advised that the store had closed on the afternoon of the joint visit and had not reopened.  A visit to the premises had shown that that the store had been cleared out.  The Licensing Act 2003 was in force in order to protect the public and she fully supported the Police in their application for a review of the Premises Licence.

The Chair invited Jennifer Mason, Trading Standards  ...  view the full minutes text for item Lic/12

The meeting closed at 2.55pm.