The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to consider a variation to a premises licence for Shop Locally in High Wycombe. The meeting was intended to review the application, which included proposed changes to operating hours and licence conditions, and consider representations made by Thames Valley Police and the Licensing Authority.

Shop Locally, High Wycombe: Variation of Premises Licence

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Shop Locally, located at 50 Oxford Street, High Wycombe¹. The application, submitted by Kopinath Shanmuganathan, sought to extend the licensable activities for the retail sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises.

The proposed variation included extending the hours for the sale of alcohol from the current 08:00 to 00:00 daily to 08:00 to 03:00 daily. Additionally, the application proposed to remove existing conditions related to the sale of high-strength alcohol and single cans, replacing them with new conditions. These new conditions included participation in the voluntary Shopwatch scheme, staff training on local alcohol-related issues, prominent display of signage regarding the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the area, and a system for monitoring the outside area for litter.

The report pack indicated that relevant representations had been received from Thames Valley Police² and the Licensing Authority³. Thames Valley Police raised concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder, specifically objecting to the removal of the condition prohibiting the sale of single cans of beer and cider. They highlighted several past incidents connected to the premises, including the sale of alcohol to a street drinker who was subsequently arrested, a drunk male damaging a display cabinet, and a theft of alcohol by a street drinker. Concerns were also raised about an underage sale and issues with CCTV access.

The Licensing Authority also objected to the variation, citing concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance. They stated that the proposed extension of hours to 03:00 presented an additional risk to the licensing objectives and that the proposed alternative measures were not sufficient to justify the removal of existing conditions, particularly the prohibition on single cans. The Licensing Authority's representation detailed several instances of non-compliance with existing licence conditions, including the failure to display required posters, the sale of single cans, and issues with the visibility of Challenge 25 notices.

The Public Health Team⁴ also submitted a representation objecting to the application. They highlighted high crime levels, anti-social behaviour, and alcohol-related health harms in the ward where the premises is located, noting that the ward falls within the top 20% for several negative indicators. Public Health argued that extending alcohol availability until 03:00 would likely increase harmful alcohol consumption, leading to greater risks of injury, vulnerability, and disorder, and would exacerbate existing health inequalities.

The Fire and Rescue Authority⁵ indicated no objection to the application, stating that fire safety provisions did not appear to be impacted by the proposed changes in opening hours.

The report pack also included details of the Buckinghamshire Council High Wycombe Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)⁶, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol or possession of an open container of alcohol within the designated area. The application and the representations made reference to this order and its implications for the premises.

The sub-committee was also scheduled to note the Hearing Procedure Rules⁷ and Virtual Licensing Subcommittee Procedural Rules⁸, which outline the process for conducting hearings remotely.