The Licensing Sub-Committee of Ealing Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for a property in West Ealing. The meeting's agenda also included a note on panel procedure guidance.

Application for a New Premises Licence at 3 Manor Road, West Ealing

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for 3 Manor Road, West Ealing, W13 0LH. The application was made by Shabnam Atif, who proposed to operate the premises as a convenience store. The application sought permission for the retail sale of alcohol and the provision of late-night refreshment, with proposed opening hours from 7:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight) seven days a week.

The report pack indicated that two representations had been received from local residents, Mary Lynch and Marie-Louise Childs, who objected to the application on grounds relating to the licensing objectives. These objectives include the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The Metropolitan Police had initially raised concerns and proposed specific conditions and hours for the supply of alcohol. Following discussions, the police indicated they would not be submitting a representation if certain agreed hours and conditions were attached to the licence. These included:

• Supply of Alcohol: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 12:00 am; Sunday, 10:00 am to 12:00 am.
• Conditions such as the provision of CCTV images upon request, no sale of single cans of beer, lager, cider, ale, or spirit mixtures, no sale of high-strength canned beer, lager, or cider (above 6.0% ABV), and alcohol being stored behind lockable shutters when the premises are open but outside of licensed hours. An incident log was also to be maintained.

The applicant, through their representative Hilda Cameron, had agreed to most of the proposed timings and conditions but had requested reconsideration of a condition regarding the sale of spirits in miniature sizes. The police subsequently agreed to remove the condition about lockable shutters.

The report pack outlined the applicant's proposed operating schedule, detailing steps intended to promote the four licensing objectives. These included measures such as maintaining a refusals book, staff training on the Licensing Act 2003, and the use of CCTV. For the prevention of crime and disorder, the applicant proposed CCTV installation and maintenance, joining retail watch schemes, and clear signage regarding criminal activity. Public safety measures included compliance with fire and health and safety legislation, risk assessments, and staff training. To prevent public nuisance, the applicant planned to manage deliveries and waste disposal to minimise disturbance and monitor anti-social behaviour. For the protection of children from harm, a Challenge 25 policy was to be implemented, requiring valid identification for age-restricted purchases.

The committee was asked to consider the application, the representations received, and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹ in reaching a decision. The potential decisions included granting the application in full, granting it subject to conditions consistent with the operating schedule, granting it with revised conditions, or rejecting the application in part or in full.