The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for S&M Local Off Licence. The committee was also set to review the standard procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

The committee was scheduled to review the procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings, which is based on regulations made under the Licensing Act 2003¹. This procedure is designed to ensure natural justice and a fair hearing, though individual hearings may vary at the discretion of the Chair. The procedure outlines the roles of the Governance Officer and the Chair in commencing the meeting, including the election of a Chair and the introduction of parties. It also details the process for presenting reports, opening submissions from applicants and other parties, and the subsequent discussion and determination of applications. The procedure also covers the process for deliberation in private sessions and the announcement of decisions.

New Premises Licence Application: S&M Local Off Licence

A key item on the agenda was the consideration of a new premises licence application for S&M Local Off Licence, located at 22 High Street, Barnet EN5 5RU. The application, submitted by ESI Licensing and Legal Consultancy on behalf of applicant Mohammed Khidir Ali, sought permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises. The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol were Monday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 23:00, with the premises itself open to the public from 07:00 to 23:00 daily.

The report indicated that a valid representation had been received from the Barnet Residents Association, which objected to the proposed hours for off-premises alcohol sales. This objection was made on the grounds of protecting children from harm, citing the proximity of QE Girls School. The association requested that alcohol not be sold until after 6 pm on weekdays. No objections were received from Responsible Authorities, including the Police, who reportedly stated they were satisfied with the requested hours and the conditions proposed in the operating schedule.

The committee was to consider the application in light of the Licensing Act 2003, the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2020², and the statutory guidance issued under section 182 of the Act. The report outlined the potential steps the Sub-Committee could take, including granting the licence with conditions, excluding licensable activities, refusing to specify a premises supervisor, or rejecting the application entirely. The operating schedule submitted by the applicant included proposed steps to promote the four licensing objectives, such as maintaining a refusal book, an incident log, and implementing a Challenge 25 policy for age-restricted sales.