Agenda and minutes

Councillor McPherson was appointed as Chair for the meeting. 

No declarations of interest were made.

All parties noted the procedure.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Support Team Leader / presented the report and outlined the application for the review of the Premises Licence of Luxa Sparkles, 103 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge.

It was noted that Appendix E had not been appended to the agenda however this document was a publicly available document available via: Agenda for Licensing Sub Committee on Monday, 22nd April, 2024, 10.00 am - Cambridge Council.

Trading Standards representations:

i.               Following the last review hearing held on 22 April 2024 Trading Standards received further complaints regarding the Premises.

ii.             A test purchase exercise was undertaken on 12 August 2024. During the test purchase exercise alcohol was sold to a 16-year-old volunteer. A review of the Premises Licence was then requested. 

iii.            Referred to p16 of the agenda which summarised the events to date.

Police representations

i.               Had concerns regarding the running of the Premises; particularly around age restricted sales which had been raised for several years.

ii.             Noted the transfer of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) position to the Premises Licence Holder.

iii.            Asked for clarification whether there were any business links between the Premises Licence Holder and the previous business operator. Referred to previous incidents of age-related sales which was contrary to the Licensing Objective to protect children from harm. 

iv.           Referred to an allegation made by a parent that their 16-year-old had been sold age-related products on 16 September 2024. The parent attended the Premises and spoke to a shop assistant, Raj. The parent alleged he witnessed the sale assistant sell age-related products (vapes/tobacco) to underage persons. The ID shown was via a mobile phone. Mobile phones are not a permitted form of ID for alcohol sales. Asked who this shop assistant was and if they still worked in the shop since the business had been taken over by the Premises Licence Holder.   

The Chair noted that the incident referred to by the Police Representative on the 16 September 2024 was a separate matter to the test purchase carried out by Trading Standards on 12 August 2024.

Licensing Authority Representative

        i.       Noted that the premises had transferred into different ownership since the last review hearing.

      ii.        Asked for information regarding the type of staff training the Premises Licence Holder had implemented since taking over the business.

    iii.        Asked if a refusals register was being maintained.

    iv.       Noted the premises had a reputation regarding the sale of alcohol to underage persons and asked what plans the current proprietor had to break that reputation. 

Premises Licence Holder’s representative

      i.         The previous Premises Licence Holder had decided to sell the business for the reasons set out on p69 of the agenda. The Premises Licence had been transferred to the Premises Licence Holder.

    ii.         There was no business link between the previous Premises Licence Holder and the current Premises Licence Holder.

   iii.         The Premises Licence Holder held other premises licences and had an unblemished record.

  iv.         The premises had been renamed to Premier Cambridge Convenience Store and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/43/Lic