The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council is scheduled to consider a review of a premises licence for Costcutter, located at 464 - 466 London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1LP. The committee will also note the hearing procedure rules and virtual licensing subcommittee procedural rules.

Review of Premises Licence for Costcutter

The main item on the agenda is a review of the premises licence for Costcutter, located at 464 - 466 London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1LP. This review has been initiated under section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003¹. The application for review was submitted by Andy Dean on behalf of the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.

The report pack indicates that the grounds for the review relate to the promotion of the licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm. The review application details a series of incidents and intelligence reports, including allegations of underage sales, the discovery of illicit tobacco and prescription medications at the premises, and intelligence regarding the handling of stolen goods.

The report pack includes representations from Thames Valley Police and the licence holder, Jaswender Ahuja. Mr. Ahuja has acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised and has stated that measures have been taken, including the dismissal of staff. He has also expressed a willingness to implement additional control measures and is committed to operating the premises responsibly. The report also notes a representation from Trading Standards.

The committee will consider the council's adopted Licensing Policy², published in February 2022, which outlines the approach to promoting licensing objectives and handling licence reviews. The policy emphasises the importance of protecting children from harm and the council's commitment to partnerships with regulatory authorities.

The Licensing Act 2003³ sets out four statutory licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm. These objectives are of equal importance and are paramount considerations for the Licensing Authority.

The report pack also details the various options available to the Licensing Sub-Committee when determining a review, which include modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence, or revoking the licence. The committee is reminded that any decision must be appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives and must be in response to the representations received, with full reasons provided.

Hearing Procedure Rules

The committee is also scheduled to note the hearing procedure rules and virtual licensing subcommittee procedural rules. These rules, outlined in the report pack, detail the conduct of hearings held remotely via Microsoft Teams. They cover aspects such as prior notification of hearings, the procedure for parties attending or not attending, the role of the Chairman, the order of business, and the process for making decisions. The rules also address the exclusion of the press and public in certain circumstances and the requirements for virtual attendance and webcasting.