Agenda and minutes

Councillor Toleman was elected as Chair.

The Chair introduced the Members of the Sub-Committee and Officers in attendance and asked the Applicant and Other Parties to introduce themselves at the appropriate time.  The Chair explained the procedures that would be followed during the meeting.

In addition to the Members of the Sub-Committee and Council officers in attendance the following were present:

Ms Joanne Surguy – Representing Sainsbury’s

Mr Robert Botkai from Winkworth Sherwood – Representing Sainsbury’s

PC Andy Cook, Licensing Manager - Gloucestershire Constabulary

PC Karen Horsley, responsible for Barton Street – Gloucestershire Constabulary

There were no declarations of interest.

Report by the Corporate Director of Services and Neighbourhoods

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented an application for a new premises licence at Sainsbury’s Local, 227 Barton Street, Gloucester, GL1 4JE under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003.  The application sought permission for the retail sale of alcohol (off sales only) from Monday to Sunday inclusive, during the hours of 06.00 am to midnight. 

Details of the application were referred to as Appendix A to the report.  Members’ attention was drawn to Appendix D which outlined planning restrictions controlling the operating hours for the loading and unloading of service vehicles.

The Sub-Committee noted that the Applicant had set out in Section P of the operating schedule the measures which would be taken to promote the four licensing objectives, should the licence be granted.

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer referred Members to Appendix E of the report which detailed a representation received from Gloucestershire Constabulary as a Responsible Authority which sought three conditions to be attached to the licence, if granted.  Sainsbury’s had subsequently accepted two of the conditions, but not a third condition requesting the employment of security guards for a minimum of 40 hours a week.  Sainsbury’s had confirmed they would arrange security cover following a risk assessment; that they were prepared to liaise with Gloucestershire Constabulary; but that they did not believe it was necessary to make this a condition on the licence.   Gloucestershire Constabulary had not withdrawn their representation and maintained that the granting of the licence would compromise two of the licensing objectives.  No further comments had been received from any other Responsible Authority or from residents.

The Sub-Committee’s attention was drawn to Late Material submitted by Gloucestershire Constabulary which contained crime statistics relating to incidents at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets in Gloucestershire.

The Licensing and Enforcement Officer summarised the application and referred Members to the relevant sections of the City Council’s Licensing Policy Statement.

Members were advised that having considered the application, any relevant representations, the legislative provisions, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the Home Secretary’s Guidance, they had the following options as considered appropriate and proportionate to the promotion of the Licensing Objectives.

(a)       To accept the application and attach conditions as consistent with the operating schedule.

(b)       To accept the application and modify the conditions of the licence which includes altering, omitting or adding new conditions.

(c)        To reject the whole, or part of the application.

The Sub-Committee was reminded of the City Council’s licensing objectives:-

(a)  The prevention of crime and disorder

(b)  Public safety

(c)  The prevention of public nuisance

(d)  The protection of children from harm

Statement by the Applicant

Mr Robert Botkai queried admission of the Late Material which had been submitted by Gloucestershire Constabulary as it related to 6 large Sainsbury’s supermarkets and one convenience store in Gloucestershire.  Mr Botkai did not believe these figures were relevant to the application and informed the Sub-Committee that if they wished to accept the Late Material that he would be obliged to examine all the statistics on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.