Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone

Contact: Poppy Collier  01622 602242

Items
No. Item

22.

Disclosures by Members and Officers

Minutes:

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

 

23.

Disclosures of Lobbying

Minutes:

It was noted that Councillors Robertson and Newton disclosed that they had been lobbied.

 

24.

To consider whether any items should be taken in private because of the possible disclosure of exempt information

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

 

25.

Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services - Application for a premises licence to be varied under the Licensing Act 2003 for Milton Store, Milton Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8JT pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman requested that all those participating in the hearing identify themselves as follows:

 

Councillor Newton – Committee Chairman

Councillor McLoughlin – Committee Member

Councillor Robertson – Committee Member

Jayne Bolas – Legal Advisor

Poppy Collier – Committee Clerk

Mrs Thiruchelvy Thavakuhananthan – Applicant

Ms Sharon Laurenton – Witness for the applicant

Councillor Harper – Other Person

Councillor Adkinson – Witness for the other person

Stephanie Price – Witness for the other person

Kerry Sargeant - Witness for the other person

 

The Chairman confirmed that all parties were aware of the hearing procedure and that each had a copy of the procedure document.

 

The Committee Members confirmed that they had pre-read all the papers and any other documents contained in the report regarding the hearing.

 

The applicant and other person confirmed that no draft conditions had been agreed, however the applicant advised that she would be willing for the proposed closing hours to be amended to a time between 11.30 p.m. and 12.00 midnight.

 

Both the applicant and the other interested party requested that witnesses be allowed to give evidence on their behalf and the committee agreed to this.

 

The legal advisor briefly outlined the application and representations received.

 

The Chairman invited the applicant, Mrs Thavakuhananthan, to provide opening remarks. Mrs Thavakuhananthan informed the committee that:

 

·  The application for a variation of licence pertained to a convenience store which would sell cigarettes and alcohol among other products, feature an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and would provide a Paypoint for the payment of bills.

·  The premises was formerly a public house and the application for variation would change from an on licence to an off licence.

·  Security would be a priority, and to this end 20 CCTV cameras would be installed on the premises in addition to the use of an alarm system.

 

The Chairman invited the other person, Councillor Harper, to address questions to the applicant. In response to those questions Mrs Thavakuhananthan advised that:

 

·  Parking was available at the side of the store and on Milton Street. No new issues were expected due to the premises change of use to a convenience store than were experienced when it was a public house.

·  There would be a separate planning application with regard to the installation of the 20 CCTV cameras and external fascia so these had not been detailed in the plan submitted with the licensing application. The planning application would be submitted within 7-10 days of the hearing.

·  Mrs Thavakuhananthan would be working full-time at the shop alongside two full-time and two-part time staff members. Staff numbers could be increased depending on business requirements. Permission had already been granted for a two bedroom flat above the shop with separate access and separate property number.

 

Mrs Laurenton, speaking as a witness for the applicant, described herself as a regular customer of Mrs Thavakuhananthan’s shop in Ashford. Mrs Laurenton stated that the shop was clean and made the area feel safe due to the external CCTV cameras. Mrs Laurenton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Duration of meeting

Minutes:

10.04 a.m. to 12.40 p.m.