Agenda item

GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE - THE CHIP STOP, 31 WATERLOO STREET, PLYMOUTH

The Director for Community Services will submit a report on the grant of a premises licence.

Minutes:

The committee having –

 

(a)

considered the report from the Director for Community Services;

 

(b)

considered representations from interested parties;

 

(c)

heard from the applicant that –

 

 

(i)

the longer opening hours requested would allow for future expansion, special events and internet sales and there was no intention to open the shop for longer hours;

 

 

(ii)

he lived above the premise and had no desire to contribute to nuisance, noise or anti-social behaviour;

 

 

(iii)

he was experienced in managing and training staff in alcohol sales and dealing with customers in off licence premises;

 

 

(iv)

he had agreed conditions proposed by the Devon and Cornwall Police;

 

 

(v)

there had been no other representations from responsible authorities;

 

 

(vi)

he was intending to maintain current shop opening hours and would be supplying own label organic wines to his current customer base at approximately £6 per bottle and there would be no beer, cider or alcopops stocked or retailed;

 

 

(vii)

customers would not drink in the street as they would take their wine away with their food;

 

 

(viii)

anti-social behaviour referred to related to customers of nearby pubs who consumed alcohol;

 

 

(ix)

The Chip Stop provided a rubbish bin and encouraged customers to use it and most customers took their food away to eat it and the Bakery nearby had a waste disposal bin and did everything appropriate to alleviate a litter problem;

 

 

(x)

the  noise from The Chip Stop was minimal and customers waited inside the shop;

 

 

(xi)

most customers did not drive to The Chip Stop, the street could be busy but this was mainly due to college use.  The Chip Stop customers only stayed for about 5 – 10 minutes and as the wine would be sold to the existing customer base he did not envisage an increase in traffic;

 

 

(xii)

young drinkers did not drink wine and the pricing would exclude them;

 

 

(xiii)

marketing and advertising of the alcohol would be to the existing customer base and the wine would be discretely displayed in a fridge behind the counter and so would not be a temptation to young people;

 

 

(xiv)

he had received a letter from a local resident in support of his application;

 

(d)

considered representations under the licensing objectives as follows –

 

 

(1)

Prevention of Public Nuisance –

 

 
  •  

customers from other licensed premises caused a steady stream of anti social incidents and were abusive when they had been drinking; this was considered to be relevant, however, there was no evidence to link this to these premises and having heard from the applicant members did not believe that this would be a concern in the future;

 

 
  •  

residents were already inundated with litter debris from packaging and tins sold and this would increase twofold.  Food litter had already encouraged rats and the extended hours would only serve to increase this; this was considered to be relevant, however, there was no evidence to link this to these premises and having heard from the applicant members did not believe that this would be a concern in the future;.

 

 
  •  

a resident was subjected to high levels of noise when the shop was open and this would increase with the extended hours combined with the sale of alcohol; this was considered to be relevant, however, having heard from the applicant members did not consider any increased noise would occur. They also took into account the applicants intention to continue to operate The Chip Stop until 8:30pm;

 

 
  •  

Local residents were unable to park their vehicles due to customers of The Chip Stop and the extension to the opening time would make this and the increase in traffic coming and going worse; this was not considered to be relevant.

 

 

(2)

Prevention of Crime and Disorder –

 

 
  •  

a resident had suffered damage to their property including their car on several occasions due to drunken behaviour and on two occasions a drunken person had entered their property; this was considered to be relevant, however, there was no evidence to link this to these premises;

 

 

(3)

Protection of Children from Harm –

 

 
  •  

local schools,  primary and secondary would be subjected to anti social behaviour from those drinking from the off sales of alcohol and it was not a good example to the many young children in the area; this was considered to be relevant, however, the applicant volunteered as a condition to only sell wine and said this will be discreetly displayed;

 

 
  •  

the area was flooded with children and youths all of which used The Chip Stop lunch times and evenings and they did not need to see or be tempted by alcohol when buying food; this was considered to be relevant, however, the applicant volunteered as a condition to only sell wine and said this would be discreetly displayed;

 

 
  •  

many young people buy from this shop and there was no reason why an 18 year old could not buy alcohol and then let his younger friends have it; this was considered to be relevant, however, members took into account that the alcohol sales would be wine only and that the applicant is operating a strict over 25 age policy in respect of alcohol sales;

 

 

(4)

Public Safety –

 

 
  •  

no representations

 

 

(5)

Other representations –

 

 
  •  

already had three public houses and an off licence in this residential area; this was not considered to be relevant to any of the licensing objectives.

 

Agreedthat having taken into account all of the above representations the  application be granted subject to mandatory conditions contained in the Licensing Act 2003 and conditions consistent with the applicants operating schedule and the condition volunteered by the applicant that the sale of alcohol is restricted to wine only.

Supporting documents: