Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Randle was appointed Chair for the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Chair to arrange introductions and to explain the procedure to be followed for the meeting.

The Chair invited those present to introduce themselves.  The Chair outlined the procedure which would be followed during the meeting.

To receive the report of the Corporate Director.

1.       Presentation by Licensing and Enforcement Officer.

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented Members with a report which outlined an application from Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards Service for the review of an existing premises licence held by Costless, 82 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1QN. 

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer summarised the key points in the report; the application received from Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards Service; and two letters of representation which had been received from local businesses.

Questions of clarification to the Officer by the Applicant

There were no questions from the Applicant (Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards Service).

Questions of clarification to the Officer by the Other Persons

There were no questions from the Other Persons (the Premises Licence Holder and his supporter).

Questions of Clarification to the Officer by Members

There were no questions from Members.

2.       Presentation by Applicant (Gloucestershire County Council Trading    Standards Service)

The Applicant addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the application.  Members were advised that the actions of the Premises Licence Holder undermined the licensing objective relating to the prevention of crime and disorder.  The Applicant stated that the Premises Licence Holder did not appear to be fully aware of the seriousness of the implications of the seizure of illegal tobacco and the test purchases made.

Members’ attention was drawn to a correction on page 25 of the report relating to the number of tobacco pouches seized on 2 September 2015 which should have read 22 instead of 31, resulting in a correction to the liable amount of excise duty to £834.

The Applicant further advised Members that on the evening of 28 October 2015 there had been a multi agency exercise and that a Trading Standards colleague had visited Costless and observed the Premises Licence Holder raking gravel at the rear of the shop to reveal the storage of illegal tobacco.  No test purchase had been made on this occasion, but it was clear from the behaviour of the Premises Licence Holder that he continued to act illegally despite advice and warnings from the Trading Standards Service.

The Applicant advised the Sub-Committee that the Guidance recommends that these matters are taken seriously and that this is an ongoing problem at this premises and that the Premises Licence Holder had not taken heed and was carrying on regardless.

Questions to the Applicant by the Other Person(s) or their Representative

There were no questions from the Premises Licence Holder.

Questions to the Applicant by Members

Councillor Pullen queried the date that the information leaflet in Kurdish had been provided to the Premises Licence Holder.  The Applicant circulated an English copy of the leaflet to the Sub-Committee and confirmed that the Premises Licence Holder would have received this information at an early stage as the Trading Standards Service had reason to believe that he needed this advice.  The Premises Licence Holder, through his supporter, denied ever having receiving this leaflet and the Applicant showed a copy of it to him.

Councillor Lugg enquired  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.