Agenda and minutes

Resolved:

1.    That Mrs Taylor be elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

Members and officers are reminded to make any declarations of disclosable pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests they may have in respect of matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Review of a Premises Licence

Selsey Convenience Store (formerly known as ‘The Rock Shop’), 143 High Street, Selsey, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 0QB

(a)          Chair opens the Hearing.

(b)          Items arising from Regulation 6 Notice (Notice of Hearing).

(c)          Notice of any representations withdrawn.

(d)         The procedure will then follow the Sub-Committee protocol and    procedure note attached

Applicant

Mr P Aston, Team Manager, on behalf of West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service

Premises Licence Holder

Mr S N Patel, Premises Licence Holder, and the Designated Premises Supervisor

Mr R Deighton, Licensing Consultant, and former Barrister

Responsible Authority

PC M Lucas, Sussex Police

Mr D Bateup, West Sussex Licensing Inspector, Sussex Police

The Chairman formerly opened the meeting. 

Mr Knowles-Ley confirmed that there were no items arising from Regulation 6 (Notice of hearing) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 and no representations made had been withdrawn.  All responses to the notice of hearing were received within the required timescales.

Mr Knowles Ley stated that this licensing authority was to consider and determine the application for the review of premises license submitted by West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service, in respect of the premises license currently held by Mr Patel Concerning the Selsey Convenience store. Following the grant of a premises licence any person or responsible authority may request a review following concerns regarding one or more of the four licencing objectives. The application concerned the licensing objectives relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm, and concern that that the conduct of the store had undermined these two licensing objectives. The applicant had suggested that an appropriate outcome of the review would be the revocation of the alcohol licence. The holder of the current Premises Licence is Mr Sanjakumar Natvarbhai Patel of Hornet News, 112 The Hornet, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7JR. Mr Patel is also the current Designated Premises Supervisor (‘DPS’) at the premises. A DPS is ordinarily the key person who is responsible for the day-to-day management of licensed premises at which alcohol may be sold. Mr Patel has held both positions since 28th November 2018. All parties have been issued with a supplementary agenda containing a witness statement from Mr Patel.

Following receipt of the application the consultation period for representations began for 28 consecutive days concluding on 9 January 2023.  Representations were received from West Sussex County Council, Public Health Directorate and Sussex Police. All relevant parties were issued with the notice of hearing and emailed a copy of the agenda. 

Taking into consideration the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, the current Home Office Guidance and all evidence before them, the Sub-Committee must take such steps they feel necessary.

The options available to the Sub-Committee when considering the application were:

1) To modify the conditions of the Premises Licence, which included the addition of new conditions or any alteration or removal of an existing condition.

2) The exclusion of a licensable activity.

3) The removal of the Designated Premises Supervisor.

4) The suspension of the Premises Licence for a period of not more than three months.

5) The revoking of the premises licence.

6) The issue of a written letter of warning or take no action.

There were no questions for Mr Knowles-Ley.

The applicant for the review, Mr P Aston, Team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.