To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair asked all parties if they had any requests, and it was noted that there were no requests.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report to Members of the Sub-Committee informing them ofa review application thathad been received for the premises licence at Costcutter, East Tilbury. The review related to the Licensing Objective ‘Protection of Children from Harm’, following an application received from Trading Standards Officers at Thurrock Council regarding underage sales.

Members were provided with a summary of the application:

·         On 14 August 2017, officers from Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards department carried out an underage test purchasing operation in Thurrock.  They were accompanied by two female volunteers aged 15 and 16.

·         The 16 year old volunteer, accompanied by the 15 year old, purchased a bottle of wine (11%ABV) from the assistant on duty, Mr Khurana who did not ask for ID or confirm her age.

·         Mr Khurana was subsequently interviewed on the 14^th September 2017 to discuss the procedures he had in place to prevent underage sales from occurring.  Mr Khurana claimed that he had been very tired and had been working extra-long shifts to cover absences. He had thought the 16 year old female was 27 or 28 years of age.

The Licensing Officer also highlighted that:

• The premises licence was currently held by Mr Khurana and Mr Gurver with the designated premises supervisor (DPS) named as Mr Er who did not have an interest in the business.
• Mr Khurana had applied to become the DPS for the premises.

The Licensing Officer provided the Licensing Sub-Committee with the following options in regards to the licence:

• Do nothing with the licence;
• To modify the conditions of the premises licence. This can include adding new conditions or alterations to existing conditions e.g. reducing the hours of operation;
• To suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months; or
• To revoke the licence.

The chosen option would not take effect until the end of the appeal decision period given to the applicant.

Members, Trading Standards Officers and the Applicant were provided the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer. The Chair queried why it had taken so long for the application to come to the Sub-Committee for hearing given the date of the test purchase operation. The Licensing Officer explained that this was due to paperwork and reviews which Trading Standards would be able to expand on. There were no questions from Trading Standards or from the Applicant.

Trading Standards Officers were given the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee, during which Members heard the facts of their case from the Principal Trading Standards Officer. In addition to the facts already given in regards to the test purchase operation on 14 August 2017, the Officer also stated:

• That Mr Khurana had been unable to produce his refusals book at the time of the test purchase but had shown this at the interview on 14 September 2017 which had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.