Agenda item
Application to Review the Premises Licence for Bethnal Green Food Centre, 438 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0DJ
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, Mr Alex Lisowski. Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a review of the premises licence for Bethnal Green Food Centre, 438 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0DJ. It was noted that the review had been triggered by the Police and supported by the Licensing Authority.
It was noted that the Premise Licence Holder was not present at the meeting. The Clerk confirmed that the Applicant had been sent notification letters and agendas within the prescribed timelines. However, there had been no correspondence, from Applicant to Democratic Services or Licensing Services.
In the absence of the Premise Licence Holder the Chair stated that they would consider the paper application contained within the agenda and asked the Police Officer and Licensing Officer to make brief submissions in relation to their representations.
At the request of the Chair PC Alan Cruickshank, Metropolitan Police explained that the Licensing Unit received a intelligent report that the premises was operating beyond their licensed hours. He referred to pages 227-230 of the agenda which detailed the visits to the premises on two consecutive days where alcohol was sold beyond licensing hours on both days. He also referred to three separate occasions when the premises was found to have smuggled goods on the premises. Due to the continued breaches of licensing conditions PC Cruickshank had no trust in the Premise Licence Holder to uphold the licensing objectives and therefore urged Members to revoke the premises licence.
Members also heard from Kathy Driver, Licensing Services, who referred to her representation contained in the agenda and stated that the Premise License Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor had no regard to the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and their obligations to meet the licensing objectives.
Members also heard from PC Brendan O’Rourke who stated that previous CCTV footage also showed that the premises had been trading beyond operating hours on many occasions.
Members briefly discussed amongst themselves and the Chair stated that;
The Licensing Objectives
In considering the application, Members were required to consider the same in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended), the Licensing Objectives, the Home Office Guidance and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.
Consideration
Each application must be considered on its own merits and the Chair stated that the Sub Committee had carefully considered all of the evidence before them and had heard representations from PC Alan Cruickshank and noted the lack of attendance and communication from the Premise Licence Holder.
Members reached a decision and the decision was unanimous. Members noted the number of repeated breaches of the licence where the applicant had been found selling outside trading hours, this together with the concerns raised by the Police and Licensing Authority, Members decided to revoke the premises licence.
Decision
Accordingly, the Sub-Committee unanimously –
RESOLVED
That the application for a Review of Premises Licence for Bethnal Green Food Centre, 438 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0DJ be GRANTED with the revocation of the Premise Licence.
Supporting documents:
- Bethnal Green Centre cover report, item 4.4 PDF 90 KB
- Bethnal Green Centre Appendices Only, item 4.4 PDF 2 MB