This meeting of the Licensing Panel will consider an application to vary a premises licence. The application relates to Bedfont Food and Wine Ltd, at 164 Bedfont Lane in Feltham.

Application to vary Premises Licence: Bedfont Food and Wine Ltd

The application seeks to vary the existing premises licence to allow the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises between the hours of 06:00 and 23:59, Monday to Sunday, and to change the hours the premises are open to the public to 06:00 and 23:59, Monday to Sunday.

The application describes a number of steps that Bedfont Food and Wine Ltd say they will take in order to promote the four licensing objectives¹ set out in the Licensing Act 2003². These steps include, for example, maintaining a CCTV system, the operation of a ‘Challenge 25’ policy and ensuring that staff are appropriately trained.

PC Mark Johnstone 1943WA of the Metropolitan Police has made a representation to the panel. PC Johnstone's representation expresses concern about the application because it relates to a highly residential area that is close to two schools, a church, [a] community Centre, all of which are effected by street drinkers and ASB caused by drunken behavior. PC Johnstone’s representation goes on to say:

The common cause of the above is from strong alcoholic beverages equal or above 6% ABV, and the purchase of single can or miniatures.

The representation sets out a number of conditions that PC Johnstone suggests could be attached to the licence should the panel decide to approve the application. These include that the premises should not sell single cans or bottles of beer, lager or cider, and that the sale of beer, lager and cider should be restricted to drinks below 6% ABV.

Mr Charlie Hennessy, Licensing Enforcement Officer for Hounslow Council, has also made a representation to the Panel in which he expresses concern about the application on the grounds that it may undermine the licensing objectives relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, and the prevention of public nuisance. His representation describes how these concerns have arisen as a result of discussions with the Metropolitan Police. Mr Hennessy’s representation agrees with the concerns raised by PC Johnstone that the area the premises is situated in has been highlighted as an area of concern with regards to street drinking which in turn has lead to ASB due to drunken behaviour. He goes on to say:

The Licensing Authority feel that proposed timings for the supply of alcohol should be offered from 07:00hours and not 06:00hours as applied for.

The representation also suggests that, should the application be approved, the panel should consider attaching conditions to restrict the sale of single cans or bottles of beer, lager or cider, and to restrict the sale of beer, lager and cider to drinks below 6% ABV.

The Licensing Panel will also consider a report entitled [Licensing Panel Procedure](https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/documents/s199116/Licensing+Panel+Procedure.pdf) which relates to the procedure for Licensing Panel hearings. Paragraph 3.13 of the report states:

In the case of applications that are subject to multiple similar representations the Authority will, as far as possible endeavour to seek a representative(s) from those making representations to address the Panel.

It is not known whether the topics in the report pack will be discussed at the meeting, or whether any decisions will be made.