Agenda item

To consider an application for a new Premises Licence for Vicky’s Afro Caribbean Superstore, 55-59 Dickson Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AP.

A. Application and representations submitted. To consider the attached report.

B. Determination of the application for a new Premises Licence – Coastal Bay Hotel.

The Licensing Panel will indicate how the decision is to be communicated to interested parties.

The Licensing Panel considered an application for a new Premises Licence for Vicky’s Afro Caribbean Superstore, 55-59 Dickson Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AP. The application sought the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises from 09.30-20.00 Monday to Sunday. Representations had been received from the Child Protection Licensing Officer, Public Health, Lancashire Constabulary and the Licensing Authority whose representative, Mr Lee Petrak, who was unable to attend but whose comments were considered in his absence.

Mr Anthony Gregson of Hospitality Training Solutions was in attendance to present the case on behalf of the applicant, Vicky’s Afrocentric Services Limited. He acknowledged that the premises fell within the cumulative impact area but explained that the proposed business was a different style to that of a traditional off-licence, offering specialist products specific to the Afro-Caribbean community and that no spirits or fortified wines would be sold, only a selection of popular Nigerian beers.

Mr Gregson offered a number of proposed conditions for the Panel’s consideration should it be minded to grant the application:

·         Alcohol may only be sold with a grocery shop in excess of £10.00.

·         No single products of alcohol may be sold / alcohol may only be sold in multipacks of four items or more.

·         No spirits to be sold

·         No beers or lagers over 6% ABV to be sold with the exception of four specified brands: Orijin Beer (6% ABV), Star Beer (5.1% ABV), Gulder Extra Mature (5.2%) and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (7.5% ABV) which, although having a higher alcohol content, was more expensive than standard beers.

In Mr Gregson’s opinion, the additional conditions offered demonstrated how the licensing objectives would be met and he believed that if the licence was granted it would not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced in the area. He therefore invited the Panel to depart from its policy and grant the application.

PC Guy Harrison presented the representations on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary and those on behalf of Mr Lee Petrak, Trading Standards and Licensing Manger, who was unable to attend the hearing in person. The premises was in Claremont ward and fell within the Cumulative Impact Assessment area which already had a large number of existing licensed premises and was one of the most deprived areas of the town with high levels of alcohol related anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Referring to the additional conditions volunteered by the applicant’s agent, PC Harrison expressed concern as to how they would be managed and enforced. In his opinion, the mitigations offered were not sufficient to alleviate his concerns in an area already deemed to be saturated with licensed premises and he therefore requested that the Panel did not depart from its policy and invited it to refuse the application.

Louise Scales, Child Protection Licensing Officer, presented her representations and referred to the existing high number of off-licences in the immediate vicinity of the proposed premises. She agreed with Lancashire Constabulary’s concerns that the proposed additional conditions would be difficult to manage and, as the premises fell within the Cumulative Impact Assessment Area, recommended that the application was refused.

Kerry Burrow appeared before the Panel to present Public Health’s representations and expressed concerns about the increased availability of alcohol in an area already suffering from significant levels of alcohol related police incidents and hospital admissions. Problems with street drinkers in the vicinity were also referred to which had a negative impact on public safety and the health and wellbeing of the local community. In her opinion, if the application was granted it would increase the cumulative impact already being experienced in the area.

The Panel carefully considered the information provided by all parties, noting that the premises fell within the Cumulative Impact Assessment area and that although the policy starting point was that of refusal, it could depart from that policy if it was convinced that the granting of the application would not undermine the licensing objectives. Members acknowledged the additional conditions that had been volunteered however expressed concerns about how the £10 spend would be managed and enforced and were not convinced the conditions mitigated the cumulative impact concerns. In the Panel’s opinion, the provision of high strength beers in an area which already had a large number of off-licences nearby and which experienced significant levels of alcohol related harm would add to the problems being experienced. It therefore concluded that it had not been satisfied that the granting of the licence would not add to the existing cumulative impact and agreed on balance not to depart from the Policy and determined to refuse the application.

Resolved:

To refuse the application for a new Premises Licence for Vicky’s Afro Caribbean Superstore, 55-59 Dickson Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AP.