Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to an application for the review of a premises licence in accordance with the provisions of Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003, in respect of the premises known as Today’s Local, 6 Upper Millgate, Rotherham. 

The Licensing Authority received representations made by the Borough Council’s Licensing Enforcement Unit (as a responsible authority), which had not been withdrawn, and the Sub-Committee considered those representations.

The Sub-Committee heard the representations from Mr. C. Burnett (Licensing Enforcement Officer, and from Mrs. A. Forrest (Solicitor), the Area Manager and the Premises Licence Holder.

The Licensing Authority had received representations from local businesses which were not withdrawn.  Mr. M. Ridsdale (local business owner) attended the hearing and presented his concerns.

The Sub-Committee heard the representations from Mr. C. Burnett (Licensing Enforcement Officer), on behalf of the Borough Council. The subject premise was a small sized off-licence situated on the pedestrianised precinct within Rotherham Town Centre.  The premises licence permitted the sale by retail of alcohol, from 0600 hours to 2300 hours daily, for consumption off the premises.

Members were informed of the details of the specific concerns in respect of the management of these premises:-

(i) Over the past 12 months there had been a steady increase in alcohol related disorder and nuisance;

(ii)  The premises were initially visited on 19^th April, 2017, by Mr. C. Burnett (Licensing Enforcement Officer) following a number of complaints in relation to nuisance and under age sales.  The visit had revealed a number of breaches of the premises licence (set out in Annex 1 and 2);

(iii)  A subsequent visit to the premises where it was found that some but not all of the breaches had been addressed;

(iv)  Agreement was reached with the premises licence holder that a variation would follow to address conditions on the licence which would improve the general operating methods and also remove conditions which were either unhelpful or unenforceable.  However, the application to vary the licence was never made;

(v)  Further issues in respect of the premises were highlighted by the Police and the Environmental Health Team in March 2018.  The issues continued to be around disorderly conduct fuelled by alcohol being served to persons in drink and known street drinkers;

(vi)  A meeting was held on 12^th June 2018 between the Local Authority, the Local Policing Team, the premises licence holder, the DPS, the general manager and the legal adviser for the premises.  An action plan was agreed with a number of variations to the existing premises licence offered and voluntarily included within the action plan with a view to the conditions being applied by way of variation at Annex 2 of the premises licence during or following the 3 months action plan;

(vii)  Following the action plan, however, incidents had continued to take place at the premises including disorder and a clear lack of willingness to assist the Police and ensure public safety was preserved.  Numerous Police requests for CCTV footage in respect of incidents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.