RESOLVED:  That Councillor Linda Taylor be appointed Chair of the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair opened the meeting, outlined the procedures to be followed, and all present introduced themselves.

Mr Graham Gover, representing the Applicant advised the Committee that this would be the 4^th premises that the Applicants had owned and operated, all of these solely being specialist Polish food stores. The store for which the application was being considered was due to open the following weekend after the hearing and would sell all authentic Polish foods including wines and beers. Mr Gover noted that representations had been received from the Police regarding their application in Torquay, but the Premises Licence had been granted. Mr Gover advised that given that this area had similar issues, the Applicants had submitted the Application with a number of proposed conditions being offered, noting that there were several proposed which were not in force at any other premises locally to his knowledge.

Mr Gover outlined each condition proposed, noting where the alcohol would be sold in the store and advising that this area would be under constant supervision and monitoring by staff and CCTV had already been purchased with a TV monitor facing staff.

Mr Gover stated that he had undertaken surveys in the area and found 6 retailers in the area already selling Polish alcohol at a higher strength than the Applicant was proposing and this was the reasoning behind proposed Condition 1.

Members questioned the enforceability of the conditions. The Metropolitan Police responded that it would be enforceable, noting that the proposed prices were not such a concern and would become redundant in time.

Councillor Philip Jones asked about the Applicants previous experience to which their representative advised that they had one store in Exeter, one in Torquay and one in Exmouth, all of which were specialist Polish shops.

Councillor Linda Taylor asked if there were any other shops close by selling similar products and was advised by Mr Gover that there was one store two doors down from the Applicants shop which was selling Polish beer at a very cheap price.

PC Russ Stevens presented his Representation against granting the Premises Licence on behalf of the Metropolitan Police. PC Stevens advised that when he had received the application he had been concerned, noting that it was a basic application and the plan was in Polish and so areas were not clear what was being sold and where. PC Stevens stated that when he had made contact with and visited  the Applicants, although they had been very helpful whilst they were setting up, hehad explained to them that the premises was in a Cumulative Impact Zone and explained the consequences of that to them as the Applicant had not been aware of this. PC Stevens advised that he was grateful that the conditions proposed had been included in the application and that they were responsible retailers, but the issue for PC Stevens was with the location of the premises. PC Stevens outlined the issues in Mitcham where the premises was located and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.