This meeting was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Morley's Take Away at 33A Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath.

Morley's Take Away, 33A Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath

Mr Kirushnapillai Partheepan applied for a new premises licence to be granted to Morley's Take Away. Mr Partheepan wished to be able to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 11:00 to 04:00 the following day, every day, and to provide late night refreshment indoors between 23:00 and 04:00 every day. The application also sought permission for the premises to be open to the public between 10:00 and 04:00 the following day.

Mr Partheepan described the business as an established chicken and pizza takeaway, offering other options including burgers and grilled food. They stated in their application that This application is to open the shop for deliveries and collections until 4 a.m. And beers and wines will be available for delivery/collection orders only. Not available on the premises to order or buy.

Conditions Offered

The applicant offered a number of conditions that they would abide by were the licence to be granted. These included steps to prevent crime and disorder, such as the operation of a CCTV system that would be in operation whenever the premises was open to the public. The applicant also proposed that a staff member conversant in its operation would be on the premises at all times so that recordings could be made immediately available to police or authorised council officers.

The applicant also made proposals to prevent the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18. These included the operation of a 'Challenge 25' policy, the requirement for delivery drivers to refuse to hand over alcohol where they believe it is being purchased on behalf of a minor, and the refusal of any delivery where the recipient cannot provide proof of age. They also proposed that alcohol would only be available to purchase alongside food, with no alcohol-only sales permitted.

Objections

The Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority and Bexley's Environmental Health service all made representations regarding the application.

The Metropolitan Police objected to the application in its entirety, stating that The location of the premises falls within the Bexleyheath Cumulative Impact Zone, meaning that the principle of the Licensing Act 2003 that an applicant must demonstrate that a new licence will not add to the problems already being experienced in an area applies. The Police argued that the application did not demonstrate how the licensing objectives would be upheld.

The Police also noted that the area already has a high number of licensed premises, and the application was for longer hours than those usually permitted, both of which are relevant factors in Bexley's Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Licensing Authority also objected to the application, stating that The applicant has failed to demonstrate in their application and operating schedule that the licensing objectives would be upheld, in particular the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. They also cited the fact that the application is in a Cumulative Impact Zone.

Environmental Health objected on the grounds of public nuisance from customers and delivery drivers, particularly in the early hours of the morning, arguing that customers and drivers would congregate around the premises and cause noise and disturbance at unsociable hours. They argued that this was particularly likely given that alcohol will be sold at the premises until 4am, and stated that Conditions offered by the applicant are not considered robust enough to prevent public nuisance.

Twelve other people also objected to the application, many of whom cited the existence of late night noise and anti-social behaviour in the area. For example, one objector stated that Pickford Lane is already a haven for groups of youths to gather at various times through the day and night causing a nuisance to residents, while another claimed that the surrounding roads are often littered with discarded food containers. One objector stated that they had already had to call the police on numerous occasions due to anti-social behaviour.

Planning Permission

The council's planning department advised that the property is subject to a planning condition from a previous application that restricts its opening hours to 10:30 to 23:00 Mondays to Thursdays, 10:30 to 23:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:00 to 22:30 on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The planning department advised that planning permission would be required to operate outside these hours.

Minutes of previous meetings

The sub-committee were also scheduled to confirm the minutes of their two previous meetings, which took place on 2 October 2024 (minutes) and 18 October 2024 (minutes).