The Licensing Sub-Committee of North Northamptonshire Council met to consider a new premises licence application for Sondhi Convenience Stores in Kettering, and an application for a variation of the premises licence for Morrisons Daily in Broughton. Both applications had received objections from the public and responsible authorities.

Sondhi Convenience Stores, Kettering

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Sondhi Convenience Stores, located at 92 Field Street, Kettering, NN16 8EW. The application was submitted by Jasvir Sondhi and Gurvinder Sondhi.

The application requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between the hours of 05:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday, and to open during the same hours.

Two representations were received objecting to the application, from Northamptonshire Police and North Northamptonshire Council's Licensing Department.

Northamptonshire Police's objection was based on concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm. They felt that the operating schedule was not specific enough to address the promotion of the licensing objectives¹. Following the police representation, Mr Sondhi was contacted and advised of several conditions that would need to be accepted to satisfy the police. These included:

• Installation and maintenance of a comprehensive CCTV system.
• A staff member conversant with the CCTV system to be on the premises at all times.
• Customer areas to be well lit and kept free from obstruction.
• Operation of a Challenge 25² proof of age scheme.
• Prominent display of signage regarding the Challenge 25 scheme and the illegality of purchasing alcohol on behalf of persons under 18.
• Maintenance of an incident log.
• Undertaking right to work checks on prospective employees.
• Ensuring prospective employees are trained in the Licensing Act 2003, conditions of the premises licence, underage sales, and proxy sales³.
• Regular employee training.
• Maintenance of an employee training register.
• No self-service of spirits.
• Alcohol and tobacco products only to be purchased from bona fide wholesalers, with invoices retained for a minimum of six months.
• Staff to be instructed and trained on the subject of illicit alcohol and tobacco products.

The North Northamptonshire Council Licensing Department's representation raised concerns about Mr Sondhi's lack of knowledge regarding the licensing objectives and the responsibilities of a licence holder. During a visit to the premises on 5 March 2025, Mr Sondhi was unable to name any of the four licensing objectives. This issue had also arisen at a previous licensing hearing on 4 February 2025, when a premises licence application was made in the name of Shop Locally Ltd. At that hearing, Mr Sondhi was advised to seek the services of a licensing agent and conduct research regarding alcohol licensing before making any further applications. The previous premises licence was refused.

The report noted that the sub-committee must carry out its functions to promote the licensing objectives having regard to the Licensing Act 2003, the council’s licensing policy, and S182 Guidance⁴.

Morrisons Daily, Broughton

The sub-committee was also scheduled to consider an application for a variation to the premises licence for Morrisons Daily, located at 19 High Street, Broughton, NN14 1NF. The application was submitted by Samy (County) Limited.

The application requested to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol to 24 hours daily, to allow for the provision of late night refreshment between the hours of 23:00 and 05:00 daily, to remove the conditions listed in Annex 2 of the current licence, to include in Annex 2 the conditions attached to the application, and to update the premises plan following a general refurbishment.

Ten representations were received objecting to the application, one from Broughton Parish Council and seven from residents.

Broughton Parish Council's objection stated that extending the licence would have a significantly detrimental impact on the local community, particularly concerning the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance. Their concerns included noise pollution, light pollution, potential for anti-social behaviour, and impact on residential amenity. The Parish Council believed that the above all constitute as statutory nuisances under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Representations from residents raised concerns about the opening hours of the premises, potential for noise and light pollution, and potential for anti-social behaviour.

One resident, Mr Keith Donald, stated:

I wish to appeal against the forthcoming alcohol licensing & change in opening times to 24/7 .

My concerns are as a resident living opposite the Morrisons Daily store. Noise pollution of car engines putting up and putting away and people pollution with talking loudly white getting in and out of there cars in the 22.00 hrs to 0700 Due to Morrisons Daily being open overnight.

I feel light pollution into my home has become worse since Morrison's Daily being open 24/7 which has had an impact to my sleep pattern. I have dementia which doctors advice the I have 8hrs undisturbed steep which am not getting at the moment.

Noise of working staff talking and vaping and moving caging during the night. Am also concerned that it could bring sales of alcohol setting to a high in the village from Morrisons Daily being open 24/7.

We in the village have lived happily having a well supported shops and post office and take away service with them feeling only to open in daytime and not a 24/7 .

I feel having 24/7 opening Within a small Village ie High Street do to the closeness of residential homes is unacceptable and not In the interest of the Village.

Another resident, Clive Green, shared concerns about the potential for crime:

In 2019, there was an armed robbery when the shop was the Co Op. My fear is that a shop in a quiet village, with open plan tills that are incredibly easy to access, is an easy target. Being the only shop open in the middle of the night, with no other shops or premises nearby with CCTV or deterrents, the Morrisons Daily is an easy target for a car to park right out front, with multiple criminals being able to quickly access the tills or worse, harm staff.

Therefore, it is my belief that the Morrisons being Open 24hrs will only increase the likelihood of crime or public disorder.

The report noted that most of the representations refer to the opening times of the premises, but that the opening times are not deemed to be a licensable activity and therefore are not considerations for this panel, unless there is evidence of conflict with the licensing objectives from the licensable activities taking place during those times.