The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene remotely to address licensing matters within the borough. The main item for consideration is an application for a premises licence at a shop on London Road. The sub-committee will also discuss any urgent business and consider excluding the press and public from the meeting for certain items.

Licensing Act 2003 - Application For a Premises Licence at 755 London Road, Croydon, CR7 6AW

The sub-committee is being asked to consider an application for a premises licence at 755 London Road, Croydon, CR7 6AW.

Sabores de Portugal Ltd has applied for a licence to sell alcohol between 10:00 and 18:00 Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 to 14:00 on Sundays, for consumption both on and off the premises. The applicant, described as a limited company operating as a café and delicatessen, intends to sell coffee, sandwiches, cakes and groceries, and includes a seating area for customers.

The report pack notes that the premises falls within a Cumulative Impact Area¹ under the council's licensing policy. The report pack states that representations have been received regarding the application, and that the applicant has been provided with written copies of these representations.

The council's licensing policy states that it recognises that a significant number and type of licensed premises in a particular area may lead to problems of crime, disorder and nuisance and notes that in accordance with the Statutory Guidance to the Act, their cumulative impact on the promotion of the licensing objectives is a proper matter for the Council to consider.

The report pack includes a representation objecting to the licence application. The representation makes the following points:

• The address falls inside the Thornton Heath Local Centre Cumulative Impact Area, where there is a presumption that any new licence for the sale of alcohol is likely to add to cumulative impact and should therefore be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
• The premises are also within the Thornton Heath Area Public Space Protection Order² (PSPO), which prohibits on-street drinking.
• The application fails to show how the proposed alcohol sales will promote the licensing objectives³, in particular the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
• The applicant describes a café/delicatessen operation, which could function fully without off-sales of alcohol, and that no community benefit, investment plan, or partnership measure has been offered to justify a departure from the CIA presumption.

The representation requests that the Licensing Sub-Committee refuse the application in its entirety.

The applicant, Alexandra Magalhaes, names Luciana Magalhaes as the designated premises supervisor.

The report pack includes proposed conditions for the premises, including:

• The installation, operation and maintenance of a fully operational CCTV system.
• The operation of a 'Challenge 25' policy⁴.
• The keeping of an incident log and a refusals book.
• A restriction on the sale of beer, lager, cider or perry exceeding 6% ABV, with the exception of genuine premium craft/artisan products.
• A requirement that all alcohol be served via table service and consumed whilst seated only.
• A requirement for staff to be given training in relation to the Licensing Act 2003, conflict management and the protection of children from harm.

The sub-committee is able to grant the application, to vary the application, with or without further conditions, or to refuse the application.

Councillor Scott Roche is the Cabinet Member for Streets & Environment. Michael Goddard is the Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing. Flora Osiyemi is the Head of Finance Place, Residents & Gateway. Kiri Bailey is the Head of Commercial, Housing and Litigation and Deputy Monitoring Officer. Jennifer Sankar is the Head of HR Sustainable Communities.

Other agenda items

The agenda also includes items regarding:

• Appointment of a chair for the meeting.
• Apologies for absence.
• Disclosure of interests, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct and the Localism Act 2011.
• Urgent business.
• Exclusion of the press and public.