It was moved by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor A Cossens and:-

RESOLVED that Councillor Wiggins be elected as Chairman for the meeting.

The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

There were no apologies or substitutions on this occasion.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Monday 17 March 2025.

It was moved by Councillor A Cossens, seconded by Councillor Smith and:-

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on Monday, 17 March 2025, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

Councillor Wiggins declared for the public record that she held a personal licence, but that it had no bearing on her capacity to be a member of this Sub-Committee

To inform Members that an application has been received for the Grant of a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 from Mr Srinivas Reddy Patlola to sell alcohol off the premises at Bathside Convenience Store, 5 Ingestre Street, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3JA and further that an objection to the proposed licensable activity has been received from members of the public.

The Sub-Committee heard from the Licensing Technical Officer that the application had been made under the Licensing Act 2003 for a Premises Licence to include the sale of alcohol off the premises.

The applicant had described the premises as a Convenience Store.

The applicant had proposed that the store’s opening hours be as follows:

Monday to Sunday                 06:00 to 23:00

The applicant had proposed, in his application, to open to the public for the sale of alcohol on the following days/hours:

Monday to Sunday                  08:00 to 23:00

The Sub-Committee was informed that the applicant had outlined steps in the application to promote the four licensing objectives. A summary of the application was attached as Appendix A of the Officer report.

Members were informed that all responsible authorities had been consulted with as per procedure and no representations had been received.

Two representations had been received from members of the public. Those had been attached as Appendix B of the Officer report.

Members were reminded that each application must be considered in its own rights and on its own merits only on how it might impact the four licensing objectives, which were the prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, public safety and protection of children from harm.

Srinivas Patlola, the applicant, had presented the Sub-Committee with papers from various members of the public who had written in support of the application. However, the presentation of those documents without prior notice was against procedure, and therefore the Chairman (Councillor Wiggins) adjourned the meeting in order for the objector present at the Hearing to review those documents and determine whether he was willing to allow them to be included as part of the hearing.

Following a 3-minute adjournment, the objector agreed that those documents to be circulated to Members and Officers.

The applicant then spoke in support of the application, stating that the shop would not be open until 11pm on a regular basis.

The Chairman (Councillor Wiggins) adjourned the meeting at this time and the applicant and objector left the room whilst discussions took place between Officers and the applicant; to clarify the hours that he wished to apply for as part of the licence to sell alcohol on the premises.

After a 30-minute adjournment, the applicant and objector returned to the room.

The applicant informed Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.