Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

The Chair opened the meeting and introductions were made.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.

To receive any apologies for absence

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

The Sub-Committee were required to consider an application to review a premises licence for the following premises:

Londis

131 High Street

Markyate

St Albans

Hertfordshire

AL3 8JG

Please refer to the video minutes for full discussion.

Decision

The application was for a licence to sell alcohol between the hours of 6am and 11pm Monday – Sunday.

A public consultation took place and 1 representation was received from a resident living in the vicinity of the Premises. The objection related to the proposed activities undermining all four of the licensing objectives.

Following representations made by Hertfordshire Constabulary regarding recommended conditions for the applicant to add to the application, the applicant confirmed their agreement to all of the additional conditions proposed in writing via email on 11^th April 2025.

At the hearing, the Applicant confirmed that he was a very responsible Licence holder with over 20 years’ experience. The applicant confirmed he runs 3 other premises within the Borough, similar to the Premises that is the subject of this application, all with Premises Licences and he has never experienced any issues. The application proposed the inclusion of CCTV, staff training and application of the Challenge 25 policy.

The sub-committee noted that there were no objections raised by any of the Responsible Authorities, but noted the conditions proposed by Hertfordshire Constabulary, which the sub-committee endorses and would make conditions of the licence. The Applicant has indicated his agreement to these conditions.

The sub-committee considered the written objections from the objector. In particular, the Committee discussed the concern about early morning availability of alcohol. The applicant’s experience from his other stores is that there is very little actual provision of alcohol in the morning. His other premises open from 7am. It is proposed that this store will open at 7am and close at 10pm.  The sub-committee does not wish to increase the hours in which alcohol is available and therefore resolves to restrict the licence to the hours of 7am to 11pm.

There is an existing establishment nearby where alcohol is available, and the sub-committee considers that the addition of a store licensed to sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm will not have an unacceptable effect on the licensing objectives.

The sub-committee also noted the objectors concerns regarding parking in the High Street and delivery traffic however, these are not matters that the Sub-Committee could take into consideration when reviewing an application for a Premises Licence.

Accordingly, the Sub-Committee has resolved to grant the Premises with Sale by Retail of alcohol for consumption off the Premises from 07:00 – 23:00hrs Monday – Sunday, subject to the conditions proposed by the Hertfordshire Constabulary. 

The Applicant is a responsible businessman, and the Sub-Committee was comforted by the fact that he had many years’ experience and multiple premises of a similar type within the Borough.