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.

Members and Officers may seek advice upon any relevant interest from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Rosey Whorlow substituted for Councillor Dale Overton.

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 13 October 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 13 October 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 Sustainability and Resources, which had 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 report explaining that the application had been made by Trading Standards following a failed test purchase of alcohol sold to a child on 24th May 2023. Trading Standards were recommending a three month suspension and a change of DPS. In addition, a condition should be added stating that no more than two customers under the age of 18 be permitted in the shop at any time unless accompanied by an adult.

There were two other representations. Sussex Police had supported Trading Standards recommendations and had added a request that the existing conditions in Annexe 2 be updated to current modern standard.

West Sussex County Council’s Public Health Department also supported Trading Standards recommendations and had recommended in addition that the premises staff should receive refresher Challenge 25 training every three months and that a refusal log be reviewed and signed by the licence holder monthly. 

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 Trading Standards

The Trading Standards Officer presented his report, explaining the circumstances leading to the review application. 

Questions from Members to Trading Standards

Members asked if the complaint had come from a member of the public and how many complaints Trading Standards had received.

The Trading Standards Officer confirmed that they had received one complaint and that it had originated from a member of the public. The Officer also clarified that the premises had failed one test purchase and this was the first review of the premises on record.

Questions from the licence holder’s representative to Trading Standards

The licence holder’s representative asked the Trading Standards Officer if they usually make an appointment to visit a premises.

The Trading Standards Officer confirmed that they always attempt to make an appointment, but if that is not possible they will visit the premises without an appointment. The Officer was unsure which the case in this instance was.

Representation from the licence holder’s representative

The licence holder’s representative made a representation to the committee stating that the Licence holder had taken this situation very seriously and had immediately taken steps to remedy it.  The member of staff who had sold the alcohol during the failed test purchase has had his employment terminated and the DPS had been changed. The licence holder had assured him that although the refusal log had not been correctly maintained in the past underage customers had been refused alcohol sales.  He asked the Committee to consider that a review should be about putting things right, rather than dealing out punishment and to  ...  view the full minutes text for item LCSC/35/23-24