Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Proposal:     Variation of existing licence.

Location:      Costcutters, 156 Sagecroft Road, Thatcham RG18 3BQ

Applicant:    Mr Kuldeep Singh Khaneja

Members of the Sub-Committee agreed to delay the start of the meeting to 10.45am to allow time for the applicant, who had indicated that he would be delayed, to arrive.

The Sub-Committee considered a report (Agenda Items 2 and 3) concerning Licensing Application 12/00411/LQN in respect of Costcutters Minimarket, 156 Sagecroft Road, Thatcham, RG18 3BQ.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Emilia Matheou (Licensing Officer, West Berkshire Council) addressed the Sub-Committee on this application.

Neither the applicant, Mr Kuldeep Khaneja, or the objector, Thatcham Town Council, both of whom had indicated that they wished to address the Sub-Committee, were in attendance.

Emilia Matheou, in addressing the Sub-Committee, raised the following points:

·          On 5 March 2012 West Berkshire Council Licensing received an application to vary a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. This was made by Mr Y K Bahal agents for Costcutters, 156-160 Sagecroft Road, Thatcham, RG18 3BQ on behalf of Mr Khaneja.

·          The application for variation was made to extend the opening hours and vary the licensing hours for the sale of alcohol, Monday to Sunday from 0600 to 2300.

·          The consultation period ran from 6 March 2012 to 4 April 2012 and one representation was received from Elaine Hare, Thatcham Town Council. The Town Council objected to the extension in hours for the following reasons:

·        ‘The shop was within a residential area and there were plenty of other places which were already open later to purchase alcohol. There was a danger that the shop staying open later could encourage anti-social behaviour.’

·          No mediation had taken place.

Councillor Quentin Webb referred to the comment made in the representation received from Thatcham Town Council that there were ‘plenty of other places already open later to purchase alcohol’ and queried what the alternatives were for people living in the area. Emilia Matheou confirmed that to her knowledge there was only the Tesco Express in Northfield Road, Thatcham.

Councillor Jeff Beck asked for clarification on whether the store was in the ownership of the applicant (Mr Khaneja) or whether Mr Khaneja was applying on behalf of Costcutters. Brian Leahy confirmed that Mr Khaneja was the owner of the store, although an agreement was in place that the majority of the products sold would be from Costcutters.

Councillor Webb referred to the opening hours requested by the applicant and asked whether the Sub-Committee could reduce these if Members felt it was appropriate to do so. Alison Beynon confirmed that this was a consideration for Members, but such a decision would need to be based on the evidence provided to the Sub-Committee and Members needed to decide if this was sufficient to warrant any change from what had been requested in the application. Such a decision would also need to relate to at least one of the Licensing Act’s four objectives.

The Sub-Committee retired at 10.52am to make its decision.

Having taken the written representation into account made by Thatcham Town Council, the Licensing Sub-Committee RESOLVED that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.