To consider an application for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of Pal Food & Wine, 397 Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1HA.

The Head of Planning, Development and Regulatory Services submitted a report on an application for a review of Premises Licence in respect of Pal Food & Wine, 397 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1HA.  The application for review had been submitted by the Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, in its capacity as a named responsible authority, following a combination of criminal activity including the sale of illegal alcohol and tobacco and a number of licence condition breaches uncovered during inspections of the premises.

The application sought for the Premises Licence to be revoked as the only appropriate and proportionate step to promote the licensing objectives and safeguard the public.

A copy of the review application was attached to the report at Appendix I.  This set out details of the breaches of condition and criminal activity which had been observed during inspections carried out on 31 March 2014, 3 September 204, 11 September 2014, 3 November 2014, 1 May 2015, 17 February 2017, 24 July 2017, 1 October 2018, 26 February 2019, 14 March 2019 and 1 April 2019.

The report stated that representations had been received from Thames Valley Police and the Reading Borough Council Licensing Team, which were attached to the report at Appendices II and III respectively.

The report stated that the Premises Licence Holder was Mr Aman Singh Chopra.  The current Premises Licence, a copy of which was attached to the report at Appendix IV, permitted the following:

Hours for the Sale by Retail of Alcohol

Monday to Sunday                                       0600 hours until 2300 hours

Hours the Premises are Open to the Public

Monday to Sunday                                       0600 hours until 2300 hours

A plan showing the location of the premises and surrounding streets was attached to the report at Appendix V.

The report stated that in determining the application the Licensing Authority had a duty to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as follows:

• The prevention of crime and disorder

·         Public safety

·         The prevention of public nuisance

·         The protection of children from harm

The report stated further that in determining the application the Licensing Authority must also have regard to the representations received, the Licensing Authority’s statement of licensing policy and any relevant section of the statutory guidance to licensing authorities.  Further, in determining the application the Licensing Authority could take such of the following steps as it considered appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives:

• Take no further action

·         To issue formal warnings to the premises supervisor and/or premises licence holder

·         Modify the conditions of the licence (including, but not limited to hours of operation of licensable activities)

·         Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence

·         Remove the designated premises licence supervisor

·         Suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months

·         Revoke the licence

(Where the Sub-Committee took a step mentioned in the third and fourth bullet points above it may provide that the modification or exclusion was to have effect for a period not exceeding three months  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2