The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Corner Shop, located at 6 Beaconsfield Road, Southall. The committee was also scheduled to review the Panel Procedure Guidance Note.

New Premises Licence for The Corner Shop

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Corner Shop, located at 6 Beaconsfield Road, Southall, UB1 1DW. The applicant, Mr Sukhpal Singh Chopra, was seeking permission for the retail sale of alcohol for off-sales. The proposed hours for the supply of alcohol were Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 23:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 22:30. The proposed opening hours for the premises were Sunday to Thursday from 08:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Saturday from 08:00 to 00:00.

The report pack indicated that two representations in objection to the application had been received: one from the Ealing Licensing Authority and one from the Metropolitan Police Service.

The Ealing Licensing Authority's representation, submitted by Dan Evans, Licensing Enforcement & Compliance Officer, raised concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. The representation highlighted that the premises is located within the Southall Special Policy Area (SPA), an area designated due to issues with crime, anti-social behaviour, and public nuisance fuelled by the availability of alcohol. The representation noted that the previous premises licence for Singh Superstore at this location was revoked in 2023, and a subsequent application by the current applicant in 2025 was refused. The representation stated that the current application proposed similar conditions to the previous one and that the proposed hours for alcohol sales extended beyond the core hours outlined in the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy. The representation also referenced evidence from PC Camelia Moisa of the Metropolitan Police, detailing ongoing issues with street drinking, alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, and public nuisance in Southall. The Safer Communities Team also raised concerns about street drinking and public intoxication, linking them to the concentration of off-licences in the area. The representation concluded that the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated that granting the licence would not negatively add to the existing cumulative impact in the area.

The Metropolitan Police Service's representation, submitted by PC Anu Mittu, also objected to the application on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder, public safety, and preventing public nuisance. The representation echoed concerns about the premises' location within the SPA and the history of the premises, including the previous licence revocation. It detailed issues of street drinking, anti-social behaviour, and public nuisance in Southall, citing PC Moisa's witness statement which described individuals frequently purchasing and consuming alcohol in public spaces, leading to intimidation, littering, and public disorder. The representation noted that the proposed hours for alcohol sales fell outside the core hours for Ealing Borough and that the area was already saturated with convenience stores selling alcohol. The Metropolitan Police concluded that the conditions offered in the application were standard and not exceptional, and that granting the licence would risk undermining the licensing objectives.

The report pack also included a Panel Procedure Guidance Note, which outlined the procedure for Licensing Sub-Committee hearings. This guidance detailed how applicants and those making representations would present their cases, and how the committee would retire to reach a decision.

The report pack also contained documentation related to the application, including the application form itself, a landlord's deposit deed, and public notices. These documents provided details about the applicant, the premises, and the consultation process.