Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor D Harlow was elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To elect a Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor M Ali was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no Apologies of Absence.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee B held on 26 March 2019 as published.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Sub-Committee held on 26 March 2019 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

Reporting Person – Matthew Cobb

The Sub-Committee had before it a report regarding an application by Surrey Police for a Review of the Premises Licence held by N.H. Convenience Stores (trading as ‘Costcutter’), 16 Chertsey Road, Woking.  Peter Savill of Counsel attended the meeting to represent Surrey Police along with Sergeant Emmie Harris and Lesley Sumner, Licensing Enforcement Officer Western Division.  The Premises Licence Holder, Jasbir Arora, attended the meeting alongside his son, Ricky Arora, to represent Costcutter. 

All parties present had a copy of the Licensing Committee’s agreed procedure to be followed at Licensing Sub-Committee hearings.  The Chairman introduced Members of the Sub-Committee and outlined the order of speaking which would be followed at the hearing.

The Licensing Authority’s representative, Derrick Laing, advised the Sub-Committee that the premises was a small, general store located in the Town Centre which was licensed for alcohol off-sales.  The premises had been licensed since prior to 2005 and Mr Arora had taken responsibility for the premises in June 2019 and at the same time became the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).  The role of the DPS was to ensure that alcohol sales were carried out in full compliance with the legislation and was therefore legally responsible for any licensing breaches.  On 7 September 2020 the Licensing Authority received a request for the review of the licence from Surrey Police following failed test purchases at the premises.

The representatives from Costcutter and Surrey Police stated that they had no questions for Mr Laing.  Following a question by Councillor Ali it was confirmed that the failed test purchases had occurred post June 2019.  Following a question by Councillor Howard over how the two statements from PC Hugo Hubbard regarding assault on a Police Officer and Anti-Social Behaviour were connected to the Store, it was noted that the question should be dealt with by Surrey Police as they would have the detail of the incidents available.

The Chairman gave Mr Savill the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee.  Regarding the two aforementioned statements, it was stated that both related to the same incidents, which had been drawn out over a period of time.  Mr Savill stated that Mr Arora was the Premises Licence Holder and the DPS and so there was no argument that he was responsible for the activity inside the store, noting that there had been a high number of cases referred to the Police since June 2019.  The view of the Police was that the Store should not sell alcohol to intoxicated people who could then proceed to conduct anti-social behaviour or violence towards the Police.  The Sub-Committee was referred to the two failed test purchases on 3 August 2020 and 27 August 2020 which had resulted in the sale of alcohol to underage persons.  No age-related checks had been taken and, despite the current Covid-19 social distancing guidelines, the wearing of a face covering should not prevent the checks being carried out.  A dialogue had been held between the premises and the Police on 17 August 2020 at which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.