Agenda and minutes

Application for a review of a premises licence for Costcutter, 18A Station Lane, Hornchurch, Essex. RM12 6NJ

PREMISES

Costcutter

18A Station Lane

Hornchurch

Essex

RM12 6NJ

DETAILS OF APPLICATION

Application for a review of the premises licence by the London Borough of Havering Trading Standards Service under section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003 (“the Act”).

APPLICANT

Keith Bush,

Operations Divisional Manager,

London Borough of Havering,

Trading Standards Service,

5^th Floor, Mercury House,

Mercury Gardens,

Romford, Essex

RM1 3SL

1.         Details of existing licensable activities

2.         Grounds for Review

The London Borough of Havering Trading Standards Service is committed to preventing underage sales of alcohol within the Borough.  Costcutters in Hornchurch had sold alcohol to underage volunteers on 3 occasions since July 2010, the latest sale occurring on 4 June 2011.  The venue had failed a total of 4 underage sales since August 2009.  Trading Standards believed these failures at the venue demonstrate that the premises had repeatedly failed in its duty to protect children from harm.

3.         Promotion of the Licensing Objectives

The review had been requested in order to promote the licensing objectives as shown below

The prevention of crime and disorder

The protection of children from harm

4.         Details of Representations

Trading Standards – (a responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003) – The representation stated that:

Since the operation of the premises licence in February 2009, there had been 4 separate sales of alcohol to underage volunteers by staff at the premises.  The written representation gave details of each of those test purchases. 

2 of the test purchases took place prior to a meeting between responsible authorities in the summer of 2010 which sought to address the increase in crime and anti-social behaviour which Hornchurch had been subjected to.  During that meeting, Costcutter was identified, among others, as a potential problem premises.  At that meeting, it was agreed that a further 3 test purchases would be undertaken at the premises.  Subsequently, 2 of the 3 test purchases resulted in a failure for the premises.

Mr Goyal attended a meeting with Trading Standards and agreed to a 48 hour closure of the premises in lieu of prosecution for persistently selling alcohol to minors.  The venue was closed from 29 October 2010 to 31 October 2010.  Mr Goyal also agreed to implement a ‘Challenge 25’ policy at the premises.

A further test purchase took place on 25 November 2010.  On that occasion, the sale was refused.

In May 2011, Trading Standards was contacted by the Integrated Youth Service which had identified Costcutter as a premises which was selling alcohol to underage persons.  On 4 June 2011, the premises failed a test purchase by an underage volunteer.  After the sale, the premises was visited by Trading Standards staff and the Police.  The individual who sold the alcohol advised that he was not authorised to work behind the counter and did not hold a personal licence.  The individual in charge of the premises at the time of the sale also did  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.