The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, ensured that introductions were made and then briefly outlined the procedure of the meeting.  

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.  See attached note from the Chief Executive.

Councillor Kabir Ahmed declared a personal in agenda item 5.1, Application for a review of the premises licence for Virginia Supermarket, Virginia Road, London E2 7NF on the basis that the premise was in his ward.

To note the rules of procedure which are attached for information.

The Rules of Procedures were noted.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committees held on 15^th June, 24^th June and 29^th June 2010.

The unrestricted minutes of the Licensing Sub Committees held on 15^th June, 24^th June and 29^th June were agreed as a correct record of the proceedings.

At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Acting Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the review application for Virginia Supermarket, Virginia Road, London E2 7NF. It was noted that the review had been triggered by the Metropolitan Police.

At the request of the Chair, Jane Burke, Metropolitan Police explained that on the 19^th January 2010 Police Officers together with HRMC Customs Officers and Trading Standards conducted a joint operation targeting licensed premises in the borough. She explained that Virginia Supermarket was one of the premises identified for a visit. She explained that an examination of the alcohol on sale at the premises revealed that a total of 2.1 litres of spirits did not display the required UK duty stamp. This meant that the duty had not been paid on the alcohol and that it had either been smuggled into the country illegally or not brought from an official source. It was also found that there were 119.25 litres of wine for sale at the premises at a price where the shop would have been unable to sell it at a profit. The goods were seized and a seizure information notice was issued, giving the premise license holders the opportunity to be able to reclaim the goods if they could produce proof that the alcohol was purchased legitimately and that taxes had been paid. This was to be done a within a certain period of time, however this had not been done. The total amount of duty and VAT evaded has been calculated as £332.44.

Mr Matthew Clark, Customs Officer referred to his statement on page 49 of the agenda and explained that the bottles of Pernot were found to have counterfeit stamps, he also emphasised that the wines were on a special offer of 2 bottles for £6, a price where the shop could not be making a profit had duty been paid.

Ms Burke then referred Members to the DCMS guidance, where it stated that “there is a certain activity that may arise in connection with licensed premises, which the secretary of state considers should be treated particularly seriously, one of which is for the use of the licensed premises for the sale of smuggled tobacco and alcohol”. Ms Burke concluded that taking into account the amount of goods seized they were asking that the premises license be suspended for a period of time.

At the request of the Chair, Mr Habib Altun, Premise License Holder referred to his statement on page 85 of the agenda and explained that between 16^th January and 5^th February 2010 he had gone to visit his ill grandmother in Turkey. He explained that whilst he was away an alcohol supplier came into the shop and made a very good offer on the sale of wine, he explained that his brother accepted this offer and then put it on sale as a special offer. He explained that it emerged later that the offer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.1

The application was withdrawn by the applicant and therefore no longer required to be considered by the Licensing Sub Committee.

There was no other business that the Chair considered urgent.