The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee convened to review an application for a new premises licence for Market 7 Ltd, located at Unit 7, Brassey Close, Peterborough, PE1 2AZ. Following deliberations, the sub-committee decided to refuse the application, citing concerns about the premises' location within a cumulative impact zone¹ and a public spaces protection order² area.

Market 7 Ltd Licence Application

The sub-committee considered a new premises licence application for Market 7 Ltd, Unit 7, Brassey Close, Peterborough, PE1 2AZ. The applicant, Ms Larisa Marta Cretu, sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. However, the application faced objections from Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Peterborough City Council's Safer Communities Team. The sub-committee ultimately refused the application.

Several factors contributed to the decision:

• Cumulative Impact Policy: The location of Market 7 Ltd falls within an area covered by Peterborough's Cumulative Impact Policy. This policy presumes against granting new licenses in areas already saturated with premises selling alcohol, particularly off-licences and small food stores. The policy aims to mitigate the cumulative impact of such premises, as evidenced in the Cumulative Impact Assessment.
• Public Spaces Protection Order: The premises is situated within the Millfield Public Spaces Protection Order area. This order seeks to combat anti-social behaviour, much of which is alcohol-related.
• Proximity to Problem Area: The location is near Lincoln Road, an area associated with alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and crime.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, represented by Police Constable (PC) Hawkins, argued that granting the licence would exacerbate existing issues in the area. PC Hawkins stated that the area already had a high number of licensed premises and that existing policies were in place for good reason.

The Safer Communities Team also objected, citing concerns that increased alcohol availability could contribute to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Cretu, the applicant, stated she was aware of the issues in the area, having lived there for eight years. She highlighted proposed measures to mitigate concerns, including:

• CCTV installation
• Shorter opening hours than other premises
• A voluntary membership card scheme, which she was willing to extend to all customers
• Limiting alcohol sales to no more than 10% of the premises' total sales area
• Displaying alcoholic products in a designated area within sight of the checkout counter

Despite these proposed measures, the sub-committee remained unconvinced that granting the licence would not add to the existing problems in the area.

Considerations

In reaching its decision, the sub-committee considered:

• Peterborough City Council's Statement of Licensing Policy
• Government Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003³
• The Licensing Act 2003
• The Cumulative Impact Policy
• The Public Spaces Protection Order

The sub-committee stated it had disregarded matters that did not relate to the licensing objectives⁴ or fell outside its remit.

Councillor Steve Allen, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group and Chair of the sub-committee, and Councillor Richard Strangward and Councillor Peter Hiller, Deputy Mayor of Peterborough, considered the application on its own merits, as is required.

Ultimately, the sub-committee concluded that, on the balance of probabilities , granting the licence would add to the issues specific to the special policy zone and the public spaces protection order area. Therefore, the application was refused.