Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor C Thomas be appointed for this meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider an application for a New Premises Licence in respect of Swan Lane Express, 180 Swan Lane, Coventry.

Note: The applicant and their representative have been invited to attend the

  hearing.

  Persons who have made representations have been invited to attend.

The City Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy is available on the Council’s website. Alternatively, please contact us if you require a hard copy.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a new Premises Licence in respect of Swan Lane Express, 180 Swan Lane, Coventry. The application requested the sale/supply of alcohol (Off Sales) from Sunday to Thursday 07.00hrs – 02.00hrs and on Friday and Saturday from 07.00hrs – 04.00hrs.

The Sub-Committee has a statutory duty to consider the application and any representations and to take such steps as contained in the Licensing Act 2003 as it considered appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Five objections had been made against the grant of the application, three of which were from local residents and two from Ward Councillors. None of the Responsible Authorities had objected.

The Applicant had liaised with Environmental Protection during the consultation process and agreed to reduce the hours for the sale of alcohol to between 08.00hrs and 23.00hrs Sunday to Thursday and 08.00hrs and 00.00hrs (midnight) Friday and Saturday. The Applicant had also agreed to the following condition being added to the licence: 

“Clear and prominent notices shall be displayed at the exits(s) requesting customers to leave the area in a quiet and orderly manner”.

The Applicant’s Representative explained that the premises is a commercial building situated in a residential area. It had previously been used to sell car parts. The Applicant recently took over and has experience of running a licenced premises, having done so for over two years with no issues.

The business will be run as a family business and the Applicant will live on site with her family. The Applicant’s Representative explained that the application originally asked for longer hours to provide some flexibility. However, when the Applicant considered the objections that had been received she wanted to do what she could to address any concerns. As such, she liaised with Environmental Protection as part of the consultation process and took on board their advice regarding the potential for nuisance with longer licensable hours. The Applicant therefore agreed to reduce the licensable hours and add a condition to the licence for a notice to be displayed at the exit, requesting that customers leave quietly.

The Applicant noted that the objections seemed to be based around the longer opening hours, referring to 24/7 opening for example, but reducing the hours should alleviate those concerns.

The Applicant’s Representative also took into account the objections surrounding the licensing objectives of Protection of Children from Harm and Prevention of Crime and Disorder. To that end, a Challenge 25 policy and regular training have been implemented, as well as a refusals log. A CCTV system has also been put in place, which will hold images for 30 days to the satisfaction of the Police. The Applicant also holds a personal licence so has had relevant training to assist her in running the premises responsibly.

The Applicant was asked where the living accommodation is in relation to the premises. She confirmed that it is connected to the premises, through a door at the back. The Sub-Committee also wanted to know how the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider any other items of business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of business.