The Licensing Sub Committee of Cardiff Council was scheduled to meet to consider applications for premises licences and discuss representations received in relation to those applications. Councillor Grace Ferguson-Thorne, Councillors Helen Gunter and Councillor John Lancaster (Leader of the Conservative Group) were the scheduled members of the committee. The committee was to consider applications for Dalton Yard, Deccan Express, Premier Queen Street, and Spar, The Mill.

Premier, Queen Street

An application from Hardi Ali Fatahi for a premises licence for Premier Queen Street, 119 Queen Street was scheduled to be discussed. The applicant requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 07:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday.

The report pack noted that the premises is within Cardiff City Centre's designated Cumulative Impact Area (CIA)¹, and that off-licence premises fall within the 'red' category under the policy, meaning there is a presumption of refusal for new or varied licences. The applicant stated that:

The premises will operate as a responsible convenience store with alcohol sales forming a small, ancillary part of the overall offer. The applicant is committed to implementing robust management measures, including staff training, refusal logs, CCTV coverage, and restrictions on highstrength alcohol, single cans, and miniatures, to ensure the operation supports the licensing objectives and does not exacerbate the existing cumulative impact in the area.

South Wales Police and the Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer submitted representations regarding the application. South Wales Police stated that they believed that the area was already saturated with off licences, which was causing a disproportionate amount of crime and disorder within the City Centre.

Deccan Express, Richards Street

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application from Deccan Creators Ltd for a premises licence for Deccan Express, 123 Richards Street. The applicant requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The applicant described the premises as occupying approximately 47 square meters of trading space and is positioned on a corner plot. They stated that alcohol would be sold strictly for consumption off the premises, with no seating or consumption area provided either inside or immediately outside the premises.

South Wales Police submitted a representation stating that the Cathays area is a popular area for students as well as long-term Cardiff residents, and that the area is already well served with a large number of off-licensed premises, fast food outlets and restaurants. They also stated that the area does, at times, suffer from alcohol-related Anti-Social Behaviour.

South Wales Police stated that they would withdraw their objection if the applicant agreed to a number of conditions, including:

• Amending the permitted hours to 07:00 to 02:00 hours, Monday to Sunday
• Installing a CCTV system to a standard approved by South Wales Police
• Operating a 'Challenge 25'[3] policy [^3]: Challenge 25 is a retailing strategy that encourages anyone who is over 18 but looks under 25 to carry acceptable ID (a card bearing the PASS hologram, a photographic driving licence or a passport) if they wish to buy alcohol.
• Displaying clear and legible notices at all exits requesting that customers respect local residents and leave the area quietly
• Selling alcohol for off-premises consumption only in containers which were sealed at the time of manufacture
• Not offering for sale any beer/lager/cider or caffeinated drinks with an ABV[^4] greater than 6.5% [^4]: ABV stands for alcohol by volume, and is a standard measure of how much alcohol a specific volume of liquid contains.
• Not selling single cans of beer/lager/cider, with a minimum purchase of 4 cans
• Not providing a home delivery service of alcoholic beverages from the premises

A local resident and a local ward Councillor also submitted representations. The resident stated that they were making a representation on behalf of their mother, who is a long-term resident of the street. They stated that granting a 24-hour alcohol off-sales licence to a shop at the other end of the same street would significantly increase late-night noise and disturbance, people congregating outside to drink, and drunken behaviour during the early hours.

Councillor Norma Mackie, on behalf of herself and Councillors Sarah Merry, Chris Weaver and Ali Ahmed, Cathays Ward Councillors, also submitted a representation. They stated that the granting of a Premises License for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises and allowing the shop to open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week would not promote the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, and public safety and public nuisance.

Dalton Yard, Dalton Street

Oliver Bennett applied for a premises licence for Dalton Yard, Dalton Street, Cathays. The applicant requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises between 12:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday, and until 00:30 on New Year's Eve. The applicant described the premises as a community cafe / bar / food pop up with a partially covered outdoor area for arts, crafts, and music, available for hire.

South Wales Police submitted a representation stating that there is a disproportionate amount of crime, disorder and nuisance associated with alcohol in the surrounding areas, and that the premises sits within a residential street predominately student populated. South Wales Police stated that they wished to object to the grant of this application under the Licensing Objectives of Prevention of Crime and Disorder and Prevention of Public Nuisance.

South Wales Police stated that they would like the wording of the following offered conditions by the applicant to be reworded:

• Staff authorised to carry out licensable activity shall receive initial training in relation to age-related sales, sales to intoxicated persons and age challenge procedures prior to being allowed to work at the premises. Refresher training shall be conducted every 6 months.
• At all times that the premises is operating under this licence, the Premises License Holder shall ensure that its staff operate a Challenge 25 Policy.
• A CCTV system will be installed to a standard agreed by South Wales Police.
• An incident record will be kept at the premises.
• A dispersal policy will be drawn up and implemented to ensure that as far as practicable customers leaving the premises at the end of each night's trading session do so quickly and quietly.
• Under 18's will only be permitted on the premises until 20:00 hours when accompanied by a responsible adult.

South Wales Police also sought to include the following conditions:

• Alcohol shall be stored and displayed in a secure area behind the service counters away from public access.
• No self service of alcohol will be permitted at the premises.
• There shall be no mobile alcohol sales person of any sort.
• When live events / screening of live sports are taking place at the premises, a detailed risk assessment will be prepared by the licence holder which will be made available to South Wales Police if requested.
• No customers shall be permitted to leave the premise while in possession of any drinking vessel or open container whether empty or containing any beverage.
• The premises will operate a counting system for monitoring the number of patrons entering and leaving the premises during busier days and when live events / screening of any sport are taking place.
• All staff involved in the sale of alcohol shall be trained to record refusals of sales of alcohol in a refusals log (whether written or electronic)
• No striptease or nudity is permitted and all persons to be decently attired at all times.
• No speakers are to be situated at the front of the premises.

Pollution Control also submitted a representation, but withdrew it after the applicant agreed to the following conditions:

• Prominent, clear, and legible notices will be displayed at exits from the premises requiring that customers respect the needs of residents and to leave the premises and surrounding area in a quiet and orderly manner.
• There shall be no collections of waste or recycling materials (including bottles) from the premises between the hours of 20:00 and 08:00 hours Monday to Friday and at no times on Saturdays, Sundays or bank holidays.
• The disposal of glass into receptacles will not take place between the hours of 20:00 hours and 08:00 hours Monday to Friday and between the hours of 20:00 hours and 10:00 on Saturdays and Sundays and bank holidays.
• A clear dispersal policy shall be in place, and implemented to ensure customers are leaving the premises in a quiet and orderly manner.
• There shall be no deliveries to the premises between 20:00 hours and 08:00 hours Monday to Saturday and between 20:00 hours and 10:00 on Sundays and bank holidays.
• The premises licence holder/DPS shall periodically monitor/control noise to ensure that noise does not cause unreasonable disturbance to occupants of any properties in the vicinity.

Representations objecting to the application were also received from Councillor Norma Mackie, on behalf of herself and Councillors Sarah Merry, Chris Weaver and Ali Ahmed, and from local residents. The representations raised concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour, and disruption to residents.

Spar, The Mill

A.F Blakemore & Son Limited T/A Blakemore Retail applied for a premises licence for Spar, Units 2&3 The Mill, 220 B/C The Boulevard, Cardiff. The applicant requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 06:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday. The applicant described the premises as a newly built convenience store which is located within a residential area together with 2 other commercial units.

South Wales Police submitted a representation objecting to the grant of a new premises licence under the Licensing Objectives of The Prevention of Crime and Disorder, The prevention of Public Nuisance, and The Protection of Children from Harm. South Wales Police stated that a number of conditions were presented to the applicant which South Wales Police deem appropriate and proportionate to the premise in order to promote and uphold the licensing objectives, but that the applicant has agreed to only 4 of these conditions.

South Wales Police stated that they would withdraw their objection if the applicant agreed to the following conditions:

1. A CCTV system shall be installed to a standard as approved by South Wales Police.
2. An incident reporting system will be in use at the premises.
3. All staff involved in the sale of alcohol will receive training in relation to contacting emergency services, emergency evacuation procedures, basic health and safety, alcohol sales (refusals due to age or intoxication and proxy sales) Premises Licence conditions, conflict management, vulnerability and child sexual exploitation and the promotion of the Licensing Objectives prior to starting employment at the premises.
4. The premises will operate a 'Challenge 25' policy.
5. Clear and legible notices must be prominently displayed at all exits requesting that customers respect local residents and leave the area quietly.
6. Alcohol sold for off-premises consumption will only be supplied in containers which were sealed at the time of manufacture.
7. An age-restricted till prompt system will be in use at the premises.
8. Alcohol on display shall only be in areas which are in clear and unobstructed view of staff.
9. Spirits shall only be displayed in areas which are not within reach of customers, e.g. behind the service counter in a staff only area.
10. Alcohol displays shall be separated from areas containing items that appeal to children (e.g. sweets or soft drinks). No adult or age-restricted materials will be displayed near the counter or within reach of minors.
11. There shall be no display of alcohol within 4 meters of the public entrance/exit unless it is in a staff only area.
12. There shall be no beer/lager/cider or caffeinated drinks offered for sale with an ABV greater than 6.5%.
13. There shall be no sales of single cans of beer/lager/cider. The minimum purchase shall be 4 cans.
14. There shall be no customer-selection of spirits other than spirit mixer drinks.
15. There shall be no home delivery service of alcoholic beverages from the premises.
16. The premises shall maintain clear aisles, safe flooring and a tidy layout to reduce risk of slips and trips.
17. No amplified music or other entertainment will be provided.
18. Deliveries and waste collection shall be scheduled for normal daytime hours only, to avoid disruption to nearby residents or business neighbours.
19. Waste and recycling will be stored securely in covered bins to prevent litter or odour nuisance to nearby residents or business neighbours.