Agenda item

This report details an application for a Premises Licence for Best Bulgarian Shop Ltd, Unit 7, Durban Road Business Centre, Durban Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9FE.

The Chair asked if any representations had been received to enable the hearing to be dispensed with and was advised by the Licensing Officer that none had been received.  The hearing was then formally commenced. 

          The Licensing Officer outlined the detail of the case for an application for a premises licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 from Todor Dimitrov Stavrev on behalf of Best Bulgarian Shop Ltd, Unit 7, Durban Road Business Centre, Durban Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9FE. The application was contested, with representations having been received from Arun District Council Licensing Authority, West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service and Sussex Police. A representation had also been received from the applicant. It was explained that Best Bulgarian Shop Ltd was a registered company with one listed director, Krasimir Adamov, who was also the sole director for the Best Mini Market Ltd, 25 Station Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1QD which had its premises licence revoked at the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on 23 January 2023.

Following the Council’s procedure for Licensing Sub-Committees, the applicant’s representative made representations and answered questions from the Sub-Committee and responsible authorities. Detailed representations were also heard from the relevant parties in attendance, followed by questions from the Sub-Committee and other parties present which were responded to at the meeting. Questions revolved around the following themes:

·       the absence of the applicant from the hearing

·       how the licensing objectives would be observed and whether the applicant was aware of them

·       what research had been undertaken to identify and mitigate local issues and risks

·       the conditions included in the Police representation

·       the location of the shop on an industrial estate and its proposed business model

·       the management of the shop and who would supply cover during times of absence or be involved in the hiring of new staff

·       the experience of the applicant running a licenced premises

·       the formal or informal training received and ongoing by the applicant and manager of the shop

·       what the shop would be selling and whether the business could survive without the sale of alcohol

Following the summing up of the responsible authorities present and the applicant’s representative, the panel retired to consider its decision. On reconvening the meeting, the Chair advised that the Sub-Committee had taken into account all the representations made before them, both written and oral 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

RESOLVED

That the application be refused.

……………………………….. Chair