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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Roger Croft Room Council Offices Market Street Newbury. View directions

Contact: Jo Watt 

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

Following a vote, Councillor Graham Bridgman was elected Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

Minutes:

Councillor Graham Bridgman declared a personal interest. Councillor Bridgman had been a former partner in the firm of solicitors (Kidd Rapinet LLP) that had been instructed by Mr J and Mr A Akhtar (premises Land Lords) in relation to court proceedings against the former lease holders.

 

Councillor Bridgman stated he worked for the company a very long time ago, did not know Mr Goddard the solicitor mentioned in Messrs Akhtar’s letter and had never worked at the Maidenhead branch of Kidd Rapinet LLP.

3.

Application No. 21/00555/LQN, Market Place Family Mart, 3 Market Place, Lambourn, RG17 8XU pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Proposal:    Premise Licence

Location:     3 Market Place, Lambourn, RG17 8XU

Applicant:   Market Place Family Mart Ltd

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Graham Bridgman, Chairman of the Sub-Committee, welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the hybrid meeting process. Those participants who had joined the meeting via Zoom confirmed they had heard and understood the introduction.

The Sub-Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 2(1)) concerning Licensing Application 21/00555/LQN in respect of Market Place Family Mart, 3 Market Place, Lambourn, RG17 8XU.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Brad Timm (Licensing Officer, West Berkshire Council), Mr Suresh Kanapthi (Applicant’s agent), Mr Sohail Akhtar and Mr Shoaib Akhtar (Supporters) and Councillor Rick Jones (representing the Ward Member, Councillor Howard Woollaston) addressed the Sub-Committee on this application.

There were no objectors in attendance.

Mr Timm (Licensing Officer, West Berkshire Council), in addressing the Sub-Committee, raised the following points:

·           The Licensing Authority had received an application from Kugarani Mohanarajah on behalf of Market Place Family Mart Ltd for a premises licence in relation to 3 Market Place, Lambourn, RG17 8XU on 20th July 2021.

·           The application was for the supply of alcohol from Monday – Sunday from 0800 to 2300 for offsite consumption. In addition the shop would sell confectionary, lottery tickets and chilled foods.

·           The 28 day consultation period ran from 29th July 2021 to 25th August 2021.The Responsible Authorities, Ward Members and Parish Council had been informed on 28th July 2021.

·           The application was advertised in accordance with the regulations and the required blue notices had been placed at the premises and had been checked by an Officer from the Public Protection Partnership on 4th August 2021. The application had been advertised in the Newbury Weekly News on 5th August 2021.

·           Within the 28 day consultation period, a group of 14 residents, submitted an objection to the application linked to the four licensing objectives. The objections were as follows:

- The village did not need another shop selling these types of goods as there were already three other shops doing so.

- The granting of a licence would increase competition which could lead to a reduction in prices of alcohol.

- Noise and disturbance to the neighbours.

- Children could be encouraged to drink and smoke as they would be able to buy cheaper alcohol and tobacco products if prices were reduced.

·           The objectors listed a number of additional proposed conditions they would have liked to be imposed if the Sub-Committee was minded to approve the application.

·           Following discussions with Thames Valley Police, the applicant had agreed to the inclusion of a number of additional proposed conditions as set out in the agenda.

·           There had been no representations from the other Responsible Authorities or the Parish Council.

·           No mediation had taken place and no individual had offered to represent the objectors.

Councillor Graham Bridgman asked all parties if they had heard the presentation. All parties confirmed they had heard the presentation.

There were no questions put to the Licensing Officer.

Mr Suresh Kanapathi (applicant’s agent), in addressing the Sub-Committee, raised the following points:

·           The premises was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.