The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Roseland News. The meeting was also scheduled to review the procedure for hearings under the Licensing Act 2003.

Application for a Premises Licence - Roseland News

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Roseland News, located at 69 Farnham Road, Romford RM3 8XA. The application was made by Mr Ronakbhai Ashokbhai Patel, who is reportedly being relocated due to redevelopment plans.

The application sought to permit the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises during the following hours: Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 21:00, Saturday from 07:00 to 21:00, and Sunday from 07:00 to 17:00.

The premises is situated within the Gooshays cumulative impact zone¹, an area identified in Havering's licensing policy as having a high concentration of off-licences that may be contributing to cumulative impacts and undermining licensing objectives. Havering's licensing policy states that for areas with an adopted cumulative impact policy, there is a rebuttable presumption that applications for new premises licences... that will add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate why the operation of the premises involved will not add to the cumulative impact and not impact adversely on the promotion of the licensing objectives.²

There was one representation against the application from an interested person, Ms L Ungureanu, and two representations from responsible authorities: Havering's Licensing Authority and the Metropolitan Police.

The Licensing Authority's representation highlighted concerns about street drinking within the area and a lack of proposed conditions to address this issue. They noted that the area around Farnham Road/Hilldene Avenue had been identified as a hotspot for assaults linked to licensed premises. The authority was of the view that the number, type and density of premises selling alcohol for consumption off the premises around the Farnham Road/Hilldene Avenue area is having a cumulative impact and undermining the licensing objectives.³ They suggested that limiting the sale of high-strength alcohol and multi-packs could support the licensing objectives and justify a departure from the cumulative impact zone policy.

The Metropolitan Police also raised objections, citing concerns about the premises' location within the cumulative impact zone, the nature of the application as an off-licence, and the absence of sufficient measures to mitigate risks associated with street drinking, alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, and cumulative impact. The police proposed conditions including preventing customers from congregating outside the premises, limiting beers, lagers, stouts, and ciders to a maximum of 6% alcohol by volume, and selling these and alcopops in packs of no less than four. The police noted that the applicant had declined to accept these conditions, with the exception of a reworded version of the first condition. The police concluded that the applicant had failed to demonstrate that granting the licence would not add to the existing cumulative impact and respectfully requested that the application be refused, or that the proposed conditions be attached to any licence granted.

The applicant, Mr Ronakbhai Ashokbhai Patel, stated that the reason for the application was that he was being relocated from a similar premises due to redevelopment by the council. He believed that no further cumulative impact would result from this application.

Procedure for Hearings under the Licensing Act 2003

The Sub-Committee was also scheduled to consider a report from the Clerk detailing the procedure for hearings under the Licensing Act 2003. This report outlined the steps involved in considering applications for premises licences, including the roles of various participants, procedural matters, and the Sub-Committee's determination process. It also detailed the licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.