The Licensing Sub-Committee of Boston Borough Council was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Mr Tee's Local at 12 Red Lion Street, Boston. The meeting's agenda focused solely on this application, with no other substantive items listed.

Application for a Premises Licence - Mr Tee's Local, 12 Red Lion Street, Boston

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a premises licence for Mr Tee's Local, located at 12 Red Lion Street, Boston, PE21 6NY. The applicant, Perkins Newsagent Ltd, sought permission for the retail sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises. The proposed hours for alcohol sales were Monday to Saturday from 06:00 to 22:00, and Sunday from 08:00 to 22:00. The proposed opening hours for the premises were to align with these alcohol sales hours.

The report pack indicated that Lincolnshire Police had submitted a relevant representation concerning this application. Their concerns were primarily focused on the premises' location within an area covered by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which restricts the consumption of alcohol in public spaces. The police highlighted that alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour are issues in this area, and that Red Lion Street, along with nearby Market Place and Central Park, are identified as hotspots for crime.

The applicant's operating schedule outlined proposed steps to promote the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. These included the installation of a tamper-resistant CCTV system, staff training on the Licensing Act 2003, the maintenance of a refusals book and an incident book, and a restriction on the sale of super-strength beers, lagers, or ciders (above 6.5% ABV). The applicant also proposed a condition that cans and bottles of beer, lagers, and ciders under 500ml could only be sold as a minimum of three items per transaction. For the protection of children from harm, the applicant proposed implementing a Challenge 25 policy, requiring proof of age for those appearing to be under 25.

Lincolnshire Police's representation, detailed in Appendix 3 of the report pack, expressed concerns that the proposed conditions were not comprehensive enough given the premises' location within the PSPO area and its designation as a crime hotspot. They noted that previous premises licence applications in similar locations within the PSPO area had been refused due to concerns about crime and disorder, and public nuisance. The police also highlighted that alcohol was a significant contributing factor to crime and anti-social behaviour in the identified hotspots.

The report also included statements from Peter Hunn, Boston Borough Council's Safer Communities Manager, and Inspector Ian Cotton of Lincolnshire Police, both of whom detailed the issues surrounding street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Boston town centre, and the ongoing efforts to address these problems through the PSPO and other initiatives. They expressed concerns that granting another off-licence in the heart of the PSPO area would undermine these efforts and potentially increase alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and crime.

The report pack also contained extracts from Boston Borough Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which addresses issues related to premises within PSPO areas and outlines expected measures to mitigate detrimental impacts on licensing objectives. This included recommendations such as restricting the sale of single cans, implementing a Challenge 25 policy, using CCTV, and ensuring windows provide a clear view inside the premises. The report also referenced previous premises licence refusals at 3-4 Market Place, Boston, which is also a hotspot area within the PSPO.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider all evidence and information presented by the interested parties and the applicant to determine the application. The report outlined the potential steps the Sub-Committee could take, including granting the licence with conditions, modifying conditions, excluding licensable activities, refusing to specify a Designated Premises Supervisor, or rejecting the application entirely.