Agenda and draft minutes

Prior to the commencement of the meeting it had been agreed that Councillor Blanchard-Cooper would chair the meeting.  The Chair then invited all parties present to introduce themselves.

Members and Officers are reminded to make any declarations of pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests that they may have in relation to items on this agenda and are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent.

Members and officers should make their declaration by stating :

a) the item they have the interest in

b) whether it is a pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial

c) the nature of the interest

          Councillor Blanchard-Cooper advised that as a member of Littlehampton Town Council’s Planning and Transportation Committee, he had declared a personal interest in this matter when considered by the Committee, as he was Chair of Arun’s Licensing Committee and had left the room during its discussion.

The Chair confirmed that there were no urgent items for this meeting.

This report details an application for a new Premises Licence for Gondals, 45 High Street, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5EJ

          The Sub-Committee noted that the application and the representors were not present.  The parties had been notified of the hearing and it was agreed that the meeting should proceed in their absence. 

The Chair noted that this was a formal hearing that would follow the hearing procedures approved at Licensing Committee on 23 June 2023.  He asked if any representations had been received to enable the hearing to be dispensed with and was advised by the Council’s Lawyer that none had been received.  The hearing then formally commenced.

          The Licensing Officer outlined the detail of the case for an application for a new premises licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 received from Ms Katarzyna Lecka-Shahzad in respect of Gondals, 45 High Street, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5EJ.  The hours for the supply of alcohol being Monday to Sunday 08:00 hours – 23:00 hours for consumption off the premises.  The Sub-Committee confirmed that they had received and read the agenda report.  The application had been contested with two valid representations having been received from local residents.  Additionally representations received from Sussex Police requesting conditions to be attached to the premises licence had been accepted by the applicant ahead of the meeting.  This was followed by questions from the Sub-Committee which were responded to at the meeting. 

          The Sub-Committee then retired to consider its decision. 

On reconvening the meeting, the Chair advised that the Sub-Committee had taken into account all the evidence available and presented in the report in respect of this matter, and also had due regard to the Statutory Guidance, the Council’s own Licensing Policy and licensing objectives. The decision of the Sub-Committee was then delivered to all present.

The Sub-Committee considered the range of options available and concluded that additional conditions would not be necessary, therefore the Sub-Committee were in favour of granting the premises licence with the addition of those conditions already agreed as set out in the letter from Sussex Police of 29 May 2024.

It is noted that the Applicant nor the parties were present and if an appeal is considered, they should seek legal advice on their rights.

The Sub-Committee

RESOLVED

That the application be granted with the additional conditions agreed with Sussex Police.