Agenda and minutes

Members and Officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Richard Mulholland substituted for Councillor Helen Abrahams.

So as to provide the best opportunity for the Committee to provide the public with the fullest answer, questions from the public should be submitted by midday on 31 August 2023.

Where relevant notice of a question has not been given, the person presiding may either choose to give a response at the meeting or respond by undertaking to provide a written response within three working days.

Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services - democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note: Public Question Time will last for a maximum of 30 minutes)

There were no questions from members of the public

Pre-submitted Members questions are pursuant to rule 12 of the Council & Committee Procedure Rules.

Questions should be submitted by midday on 31 August 2023 to  Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note: Member Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes.)

There were no questions from members.

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, copy attached as item 4.

Before the Sub-Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, which has been circulated to all Members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 4. Members were requested to consider and determine an application for the Review of the Premises Licence under Section 51. 

Presenting Officer outlined the application

The Licensing Officer outlined the application explaining that it had been made by Sussex Police for the licence holder Dimora Evolution Ltd for Cost Less Express, South Farm Road, Worthing. The Officer highlighted an error within the report explaining that on page 4 of the report at 3.6 it should read

• Sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises between:

                 O      07.00hrs and midnight - Monday - Sunday

The applicant confirmed that the Licensing Officer had provided an accurate outline of the application. 

Questions from Members for the presenting Officer

There were none.

Representation from Sussex Police

The Sussex Police Officer presented his report, explaining in detail the attempts they had made to take a stepped approach in addressing the many licence breaches that had occurred at the premises. He outlined the lack of response they had received from the licence holder leading to the review application. 

In addition two errors within the report were highlighted, the first being on page 41, paragraph 2, 9th March 2023 should read 9th March 2022 and the second being on paragraph 4 of the same page, 13th April 2002 should read 13th April 2022

Questions from Members to Sussex Police

It was noted that, between the complaints and the test purchase, a year had passed and Members voiced concern that residents had been exposed to such a serious situation during this time. The Officer explained that they utilised Police Cadets to perform test purchases but this had been suspended during this period due to ongoing covid safety measures.

Questions from licence holder to Sussex Police

The licence holder’s representative asked the Sussex Police Officer for clarification on the amount of complaints received.

Representation from Trading Standards

The Trading Standards Officer gave a representation supporting the Sussex Police’s application and outlining their own investigations into the premises' sales of illegal tobacco products.

Questions from Members to Trading Standards

Members asked the Trading Standards Officer if they shared intelligence with the Police to which the Officer replied in the affirmative. However the Officer clarified for the member that he was not aware of alcohol with only Polish labelling being on sale at the premises before seeing the review application.

Questions from licence holder to Trading Standards

The licence holder’s representative questioned why some evidence of intelligence received wasn’t included in the agenda papers. The Officer clarified that sometimes intelligence received was from an anonymous or unproven source. A test purchase was then performed and the resulting documentation was the evidence.

Representation from the licence holder’s representative

The licence holder’s representative made a representation to the committee stating that mistakes had been made in the past and  ...  view the full minutes text for item LCSC/28/23-24