Agenda and minutes

Councillor McPherson was appointed as Chair for the meeting. 

No declarations of interest were made.

All parties noted the procedure.

The Senior Technical Officer advised the Committee that on page 10 of the agenda pack, paragraphs 2.1, 5.1 and 6.1 where it was referenced Cambridge City Council Statement of Licensing Policy should be followed with ‘and the Cumulative Impact Assessment’.

The Senior Technical Officer then presented the report and outlined the application.

Applicants Presentation

In response to the questions raised to the presentation the Applicant and the Agent said the following:

      i.         Confirmed the reduction in trading hours to sell alcohol was now 11:00am to 8:00pm.

    ii.         Had agreed to the conditions proposed by Police representatives.

   iii.         The applicant had been in the retail industry since 2007 and was a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) with experience of selling alcohol at another location.

  iv.         Was aware of the responsibility that the sale of alcohol brought to the premises. 

    v.         The location of the chiller cabinet shown on the plan in the agenda pack had changed.

  vi.         The chiller cabinet was now against the back wall. The counter had been extended to close off the back of the premises where the alcohol would be displayed as recommended by the Police representative.

 vii.         All alcohol would be displayed behind the counter and would be purchased upon request.

viii.         The counter would be locked, and a panic button had been installed.

  ix.         Agreed to install as a security screen around the counter as recommended by the Committee if the application was approved.

    x.         There would be two staff members during licensing hours, one on the shop floor and one behind the counter; usually there was just one staff member.

  xi.         The majority of customers who purchased goods from the premises were regulars.

 xii.         If a customer were aggressive, they would be refused the sale of the alcohol.

xiii.         There was no exit route behind the counter, but staff could lock themselves in the bathroom if needed.

xiv.         Many of the street life drinkers who used the specialist support centre (Willow Walk hostel) for the homeless nearby had been banned from the premises.

xv.         Would agree to staff undertaking conflict management training if the application were approved.

 Approval of the application did not set a precedent; the application should be considered on its own merits.

The Senior Technical Officer requested a copy of the new layout of the plan to show the latest location of the chiller cabinet and the extension of the counter.

Ward Councillor

Councillor Bick (Market ward) said the following:

      i.         If the Committee were minded to grant the application the additional conditions discussed should be noted and agreed by the applicant which were as follows:

·      The reduction of licensing hours from 11:00am to 8:00pm referenced in the presentation were not the same as those shown in the application.

·      The installation of security screen.

·      Two staff members on the premises during the licensing hours.

·      Training for staff including conflict management.

    ii.         The application had failed to address the Cumulative Impact Policy; the conditions presented had not been put forward by the applicant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21/13/Lic