Agenda item

An application has been made to vary the times and remove a condition of the premises licence for the King’s Store in Weymouth. The application has been out to public consultation and has attracted relevant representations. A Licensing Sub-Committee must consider the application and the representations at a public hearing.

The Licensing Team Leader presented the application to vary the times and remove a condition of the premises licence for the King’s Store in Weymouth. The application had been out to public consultation and has attracted relevant representations. The Licensing Team Leader clarified the condition number 10 on the current licence relating to the sale of high alcohol strength mixers, lagers and beers.

The Weymouth Police Neighbourhood Team representative advised the sub-committee that reports had been received from partner agencies that the premises were selling alcohol to under-age youths who had been seen drinking strong cider in the area.  This had contributed to complaints of anti-social behaviour in the Chapelhay, Marsh and Rodwell Trail areas.  Referrals had been made to Trading Standards for test purchase visits.  There were concerns that alcohol was still being sold to young people in Weymouth.  Members were advised that the condition (10) had been attached to the licence in order to prevent the sale primarily of single cans of super strength beers, lagers and alco-pops, historically to both the homeless and under-age drinkers. 

There had been issues with the CCTV system within the premises, however these problems had now been rectified.

The Youth Worker for the Chesil locality had also attended the meeting, she advised that young people from different areas in Weymouth would travel to the Chapelhay area because it seemed apparent to them that alcohol could be purchased from the premises.

Dorset Police had visited Kings Stores together with Licensing Officers over recent months and confirmed that the DPS and her husband were both fully aware of their responsibilities.

In response to a member question relating to the ages of children buying alcohol, the sub-committee were advised that teenagers from the early teens upwards (15 & 16 year olds) had purchased alcohol, but there had also been some occasions when those teenagers had supplied alcohol to children as young as 12.

All parties were then given the chance to sum up their case.

Proposed by Cllr Beer, seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The sub-committee retired to make their decision.

Decision: To REFUSE the variation of the Premises Licence.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Sub-Committee carefully considered all of the documents presented to it and the oral and written representations made by the parties.  They had regard to the four Licensing Objectives, the Home Office Statutory Guidance and the Dorset Council (Weymouth) Statement of Licensing Policy 2016.

The Sub-Committee was concerned to hear about the previous lack of compliance with the conditions on the Premises Licence, in terms of CCTV that was not working and alcohol being offered for sale which was not permitted under condition 10 of the Premises Licence.  It was also of concern that the failures were not remedied quickly following the visits of the Council’s Licensing Team and the Dorset Police. The Sub-Committee noted the representation from Dorset Police about anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the Premises and the negative impact that they considered permitting the sale of super-strength beer, lagers, ciders or spirit mixtures of 6.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) would have.  The Sub-Committee were aware that Condition 10 had been volunteered by the original applicant for a licence at these premises in their operating schedule, as a necessary measure at that point in time, and the Sub-Committee decided that the condition was still necessary and to remove it and extend the hours in which sales could be permitted would undermine the four licensing objectives.