Issue - meetings

Members of the Statutory Licensing Sub Committee of the Council’s Statutory Licensing Committee were asked to consider an application for a review of a premise licence for The Village Store, 14 Leven Road, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, TS20 1BQ

The application had been made by the Licensing Authority acting as a Responsible Authority on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and protection of children from harm licensing objectives.

The Chair introduced all persons who were present and explained the procedure to be followed during the hearing.

A copy of the report and supporting documents had been provided to all persons present and to members of the Committee.

Representations had been received from other responsible authorities including Cleveland Police, Public Health and Trading Standards.

Mr A the Premises Licence Holder (PLH) and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) attended the meeting was given the opportunity to make representation.

The Licensing Officer presented the Licensing Authority’s case to the Sub-Committee. and explained that the application for a review of the premises licence was due to the undermining of the licensing objectives; namely the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.

The Sub-Committee heard that concerns about the premises related to several incidents of poor management, including underage sales, breach of licence conditions and unlicensed activity, which had resulted in enforcement advice and action.

The Sub-Committee were informed that on Thursday 29th August 2024, during an underage sale test purchase operation, alcohol was supplied to and underage volunteer.

The Trading Standards Manager who had made a representation in support of the Licensing Authority’s application, summarised Trading Standards’ concerns to the Sub-Committee, including underage sales of alcohol to children, sales of counterfeit vapes. The Trading Standards Manager also informed the Sub-Committee that Trading Standards had previously prosecuted the Mr A in 2015 for sale of counterfeit alcoholic spirits; Mr A had pleaded guilty to trademarks and food safety offences. 

The Public Health Practitioner confirmed Public Health’s support of the review application, and outlined concerns associated with alcohol and related harm to the Sub-Committee, particularly the sale of alcohol to children. 

Seargeant Bavin of Cleveland Police outlined his concerns in relation to the premises to the Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee heard from Seargeant Bavin that the licensing objectives were not being upheld at the premises, demonstrated by underage sales of alcohol and the breach of licensing conditions, despite warnings to the contrary. 

Mr A and the-Sub Committee members were given an opportunity to ask questions of each of the Responsible Authority representatives. Mr A did not ask any questions.

The Sub-Committee asked the Trading Standards Manager what had happened to the illicit vapes that had been voluntarily surrendered from the premises. The Trading Standards Manager confirmed to the Sub-Committee that voluntarily surrendering the goods was considered to be a sanction in itself and confirmed that there were no criminal proceedings brought as a result of the matter. The Trading Standards Manager confirmed that warning letters were sent in relation to each seizure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12