Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to an application (made in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2033) for the review of the Premises Licence issued to Hepworth Drive Off Licence Store Limited, Hepworth Drive Off Licence Store, 22 Hepworth Drive, Aston, Sheffield S26 2BG.

The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police (acting in their role as a Responsible Authority under the Licensing Act 2003) had made the application on 30^th May, 2025 for the review of the Premises Licence in respect of Hepworth Drive Off Licence Store (previously known as Comrades Convenience Store), 22 Hepworth Drive, Aston, Sheffield S262 BG. 

The premises traded as an off licence/grocery shop and was currently licensed for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises on:-

-        Each of the days Monday to Saturday between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. and

-        Sunday between 9.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m.

The opening hours of the premises, as stated on the Premises Licence, matched the hours authorised for the sale of alcohol.

The premises were first licensed by the Council under the Licensing Act 2003 in March 2014.  The Licence was transferred to the current holder, Hepworth Drive Off Licence Store Limited, on 11^th December 2018.  A search of Company House records showed that Hepworth Drive Off Licence Store Limited was incorporated in July 2018; at that time Mr. Thomas Mani Palathu Parambil was one of two directors and has been the sole director of the company since July 2019 onwards.

On 6^th June 2025 the Licence Holder made an application for a minor variation of the licence seeking to add the steps set out in the Police and Licensing Enforcement joint action plan as management controls to Annex 2 of the licence.  The minor variation application was granted on 17^th June 2025.

An application to vary the Designed Premises Supervisor (DPS) was made on 8^th July 2025.  This sought to remove the existing DPS, who had been named DPS since the licence was first granted in 2014, and made Mr. Thomas Mani Palathu Parambil the DPS with immediate effect.

The review application by the Responsible Authority was submitted on the grounds that the Licence holder, Mr. Thomas Mani Palathu Parambil, had failed to promote two of the licensing objectives, namely, the:-

·            Prevention of crime and disorder.

·            Protection of children from harm.

The review application, therefore sought, the revocation of the Premises Licence.

A copy of the application was served on the Licence holder by post and email on 26^th October, 2023 as well as a hand delivered copy to the premises. 

Three of the Responsible Authorities, Public Health, Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Licensing Authority had made representations in support of the review application.  The Sub-Committee heard representations from Mrs. D. Kraus (Principal Licensing Officer) together with Alan Pogorzelec (representing the Licensing Authority), Faisal Hussain (Solicitor, South Yorkshire Police) and Jo Belton (Licensing Officer, South Yorkshire Police).  The written representations by Public Health and Children and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.