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 Family Shopper, 2 Lyttleton Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 5LE.

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.

Representations had been received from other responsible authorities including in support of the licence review from Cleveland Police and Public Health

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.

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report to the Sub-Committee.

Members of the Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee of the Council’s Statutory Licensing Committee heard the above application, full details of which appeared before the Members in their agenda and background papers. Members noted that the review of the premises licence was made at the request of the Licensing Authority. Representations had also been received from other responsible authorities, including Cleveland Police and Public Health.

A Licensing Officer presented the matter to the Sub-Committee.

The Licensing Officer explained that the review application related to the undermining of both the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee heard that concerns about the premises were raised due to a complaint received about the opening hours of the premises. The Licensing Officer told the Sub-Committee that concerns that led to the review application being made related to poor management and non-compliance at the premises, including positive underage sale test purchases, breach of licence conditions and unlicensed activity.

The Licensing Officer advised the Sub-Committee that the most recent incident of concern was on 4th August 2024. The Sub-Committee were told that an inspection of CCTV showed that alcohol was illegally supplied outside of the authorised licensable hours, when, in addition, a personal licence holder was not on site, contrary to the licence conditions attached to the premises licence.

All parties were invited to ask questions of the Licensing Officer. The Premise Licence Holders representative of Arka Licensing Consultants  asked no questions of the Licensing Officer

The Sub-Committee asked the Licensing Officer if the recent application for a Mr W to become the Designated Premises Supervisor would be granted, considering that he had previously sold alcohol to children. The Licensing Officer told the Sub-Committee that no decision had been made in relation to that separate application, which would be considered in due course. The Sub-Committee heard that there was a 14-day consultation period for that application.

The Sub-Committee heard from PC Thorpe of Cleveland Police that the sale of alcohol to children was a criminal offence. PC Thorpe advised the Sub-Committee that Cleveland Police fully supported the Licensing Authority’s application for a review of the premises licence as they did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17