Agenda and draft minutes

There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That the items on Part II of the agenda should be taken in private, as proposed, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.

The Chairman requested that all those participating in the hearing identified themselves as follows:

Councillor Mrs Springett – Committee Chairman

Councillor Newton – Committee Member

Councillor Mrs Robertson – Committee Member

Mr Robin Harris – Legal Advisor

Mrs Lorraine Neale – Senior Licensing Officer

Mrs Caroline Matthews – Democratic Services Officer

Mr Ferhat Ok – Applicant

Mr Bulent Ok – Witness and Representative

Mr Oliver Jewell – Kent County Council Trading Standards

PC Neil Barnes – Kent Police

The Chairman asked all parties to confirm that they were aware of the hearing procedure and that each had a copy of the procedure document.

The Committee Members confirmed that they had pre-read all the papers and any other documents contained in the report regarding the hearing.

The Legal Advisor outlined the application and advised that an application for a review of the premises licence had been brought by Mr Jewell on behalf of Kent County Council Trading Standards in respect of the premises Capitol Express, 11 Snowden Parade, Vinters Park, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5NS.

The Members of the Committee were advised that during the consultation period representations were received from Police in support of the review application made by Kent County Council Trading Standards.

The Chairman invited the applicant, Mr Jewell on behalf of Trading Standards to provide his opening remarks.  Mr Jewell detailed the incidences that had led up to the request for a review of the premises licence which included:

·  The premises licence was reviewed by Trading Standards in 2013 following a failed test purchase where Mr B Ok had sold alcohol and cigarettes to minors. 

·  In March 2015 complaints were made to Trading Standards about the possibility of counterfeit spirits being on sale in the premises. 

·  In June 2015 a member of the public reported that Capitol Express was known to local children that they sold alcohol and tobacco to minors who would be instructed to wait out the back to receive their purchases.

·  In February 2017 there were complaints of anti-social behaviour in the Snowden Parade area which the residents had attributed to young people drinking alcohol having purchased it at Capitol Express.

In February 2017 a test purchase was made by a 15 year old volunteer who managed to successfully buy a single can of beer from Mr F Ok even though he had challenged him about his age and the test purchaser could not provide any ID.

PC Barnes and himself attended the premises soon after and spoke to Mr F Ok.  Photographs were taken of the refusals book and training records.  Photographs were also taken around the store to show that Challenge 25 posters were no longer on display.

Whilst in the store their attention was drawn to a number of bottles of spirits which showed signs of duty evasion due to labelling inconsistencies or extremely poor quality on other labels.  A total of 28 bottles of spirits were seized for further investigation.

A follow up visit was made by Trading Standards and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

RESOLVED:  That the press and the public be excluded from the meeting due to the possible disclosure of exempt information.

The Sub-Committee heard from the Senior Licensing Officer, Lorraine Neale relating to the evidence as set out in the exempt Appendix of the Committee papers. 

Determination:

The Sub-Committee revoked the personal licence.

10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.