Agenda and minutes

Councillor Wendy Prentice was appointed as Chairman.

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The Chairman introduced the sub-Committee Members and explained the procedure that would be followed at the meeting.

The Sub-Committee considered an application to review a new premises licence under section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003 for Premier Foods, 1 High Street, Barnet, EN5 5UE.

The Sub-Committee heard oral representations from the Licensing Officer, the applicants, and Mr C.S Harichandra (EN5) and Mr S Gray (EN5) both objectors.  

RESOLVED – That, under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings Regulations 2005), the parties be excluded from the meeting.

The Sub-Committee deliberated in private session.

RESOLVED – That the press and public be re-admitted.

The Sub-Committee, having considered the application and all verbal and written representations received, unanimously RESOLVED –

This is an application by Premier Foods, 1 High Street Barnet, for a licence to sell alcohol between 07.00 and 01.00 hours, and to be open during the same hours. 

Following the application the Police agreed conditions relating to CCTV with the applicant, and no objections have been received from the Police or any other responsible authorities.

There have been a number of representations however from local residents. Many of the objections concern issues that the Panel is specifically not allowed to consider under the Licensing Act or the guidelines issued with it. We have therefore not considered the objections relating to the need for another licensed outlet in the area, the proliferation of such outlets, the commercial prospects of the applicant, parking, or inconvenience not amounting to public nuisance to local residents.  A petition was received which referred to environmental health issues. This does not amount to a valid objection.

There are however objections that we may and need to consider. These relate to possible or actual anti-social behaviour, noise, the congregation in the area of youths and drunks (all of which concern the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder), and the proximity of a school to the premises (which relates to the protection of children from harm). The petition mentioned above also referred to such behaviour.  There was also reference to one of the prescribed notices of the application being removed. The Licensing Officer considered the notice to be proper and a copy of the notice was included in the bundle before the panel. Reference was made to incidents of drunken people in the area but there was no evidence to suggest that they had purchased alcohol in the premises already run by the Applicant. The petition did not include any detail of alleged anti-social behaviour.

The applicant states in response that the he has been operating a licensed outlet at No 5 for several years without problem, and has not been any concern to the Police. He contends that the main objection is based on commercial grounds which are not relevant to the application.

The police are the main source of information insofar as crime and disorder are concerned. They have not made an objection which suggests that they do not regard these premises as a threat to the licensing objectives. There is little substantiated evidence of any problems and even less of these premises adding to any that there may have been. The main concern is the possibility of anti-social behaviour but if there is little of this as matters stand. It is difficult to see that one extra outlet will cause additional problems. Should there be an increase in such behaviour it would be open to the residents and/or the Police or other responsible authorities to seek a review of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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