To confirm the Minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee 1 held on 8 December 2020 and 22 December 2020 as correct records.

The Minutes of the meetings of Licensing Applications Sub-Committee 1 held on 8 and 22 December 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

To consider an application for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of Oxford Food and Wine, 512 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1EG.

The Deputy Director of Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services submitted a report on an application made by Thames Valley Police on 27 January 2021 for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of Oxford Food and Wine, 512 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1EG.

The review had been requested due to concerns that Mr Sinniah, the Premises Licence Holder, had failed to promote the licensing objectives as the Premises Licence Holder and a number of staff had been complicit in the handling of stolen goods by buying alcohol stolen from other stores in Reading.

A copy of the review application form and appendices were attached to the report at Appendix DF1.

During the 28-day consultation period for the application, representations had been received from Reading Borough Council, which were attached to the report at Appendix DF2.

A copy of the current Premises Licence was attached at Appendix DF3, which authorised the following licensable activities:

Sale of Alcohol by Retail (Off the Premises)

The Sub-Committee also considered additional written and CCTV information submitted by Thames Valley Police and Kubitha Kubendran, Greater London Solicitors Ltd, the representative of the Premises Licence Holder.

The report stated that in determining the review 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 further stated 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.  Furthermore, in determining the application, the Licensing Authority could take such of the following steps as it considered appropriate and proportionate 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 or permanently.)

The report set out paragraphs 1.2 to 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 9.11, 9.42, 9.43, 11.2 and 11.16 to 11.18 from the Secretary of State’s Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 issued in April 2018.  The report set out paragraphs 1.6, 3.2, 9.12, 9.13, 9.15, 9.16, 9.18, 9.20 and 9.21 of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

Ms Saba Naqshbandi, Barrister, Three Raymond’s Buildings, represented Thames Valley Police at the meeting and addressed the Sub-Committee on the review application.  Simon Wheeler and Declan Smyth of Thames Valley Police also attended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.