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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
Resolved that: To application for a New Premises Licence – Alma Stores, 7 Alma Street, Dowlais be granted subject to such conditions modified to such extent as the Authority considers necessary for the promotion of the Licensing objective.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C Tovey. Councillor K Gibbs attended the Committee Meeting due to the absence of the Chair.
No Declarations of Interest were made.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: To application for a New Premises Licence – Alma Stores, 7 Alma Street, Dowlais be granted subject to such conditions modified to such extent as the Authority considers necessary for the promotion of the Licensing objective.
The Chair welcomed Councillor M Colbran, Councillor K Gibbs, Mr and Mrs Eynon Local Residents, Councillor D Sammon Dowlais Ward Member and Officers to the Meeting. Simon Jones Senior Solicitor then outlined the procedure that would be undertaken for the Hearing. Matthew Herbert Licensing Officer then led the Committee in detail through the ‘Application for a New Premises Licence – Alma Stores, 7 Alma Street, Dowlais’ report. Matthew Herbert also referred to the following correspondence that had been received which he read out in full for the Meeting: Statement from Police Constable Moseley South Wales Police E-Mail from Local Resident E-Mail from Ismail Palo the Applicant. Matthew Herbert further advised that as the result of mediation the details of the amendments had been circulated to Councillors and the residents and that to date no objections had been withdrawn. Simon Jones advised that the applicant had accepted the conditions of the South Wales Police. Councillor D Sammon Dowlais Ward Member then expressed concern regarding the e-mail received from PC Mosely and the number of reported incidents. He also referred to vehicle use in the area and the issues of Public Safety and Public Nuisance. The amount of traffic in the area and the very narrow parking down one side of the street and that when the area was full there was no room for cars to park outside their premises which could lead to blocked pavements and that could a site visit been undertaken to the area. Mr and Mrs Eynon then addressed the Committee and advised that the incident report of the Police only covered two years and that they had lived in the area for forty three years and that there was a lot of anti social behaviour. There was also the period of the Pandemic to consider and that there was a Public House at the end of the street, another Public House up the street together with three shops on the high street that all sold alcohol. Therefore there were five premises that could be walked to and questioned why customers would want to come off the main road to this shop as what would they be selling that was different. Residents had experienced problems of people walking past drunk, cars had been scratched and damaged and residents windows had been broken. There was experience of four of five owners of this premises and that not one had applied to sell alcohol. There were also a lot of old and vulnerable people in the area and were frightened due to anti social behaviour. An example was also given of youths surging in the road together with anti social behaviours. Councillor D Sammon stated that the residents were very concerned and this was why a submission had been made by the Ward Members on behalf of the residents in the area together with the Petition signed by residents against the proposal (Appendix E). A Member then asked if the shop was open now. The Committee were advised that the premises used to be a Grocers and a Computer store but that there was a new owner for the premises. A Member stated that he heard the objection of the residents and sought clarification if previous shops had sold alcohol together with the Licensing hours if yes. Jo Baber advised that previous premises had held an alcohol Licence and that from 2005 to 2016 this was a Licensed Premises and did have an alcohol Licence and could sell alcohol between the hours that she gave details of to the Committee. A Member then enquired if alcohol had been sold from the premises. Jo Baber advised that she did not have this information but confirmed that the premises did have an alcohol License from 2005 to 2016 and to keep this Licence in existence the owner would have been paying a fee to keep this Licence in place. Residents stated that they had never known alcohol to be sold from the premises. A Member then enquired if in 2016 the Licence had been surrendered voluntarily and Jo Baber responded in the affirmative. A Member then enquired if the reason for the voluntary handing back of the alcohol Licence was known and Jo Baber advised that Licence holders did not have to give a reason. Simon Jones then enquired if there had been any issues and Jo Baber responded that no complaints had been recorded. The residents then referred to anti-social behaviours and the build-up of cars and bad parking in the area. Matthew Herbert then read out in full the submission received from the applicant via e-mail for the information of the Committee. Simon Jones advised that site visits were not normally undertaken for Licensing Hearings and that areas were viewed via on screen Maps and street scenes of the area. The residents then referred to the report of the Police and stated that they had been burgled twice and gave details of the Police response together with damage that had been done to cars. Reference was also made to a lot of anti-social behaviours and details given. Simon Jones then advised that the Committee would now consider the application and the decision would be provided to the applicant and local residents. The Chair then thanked all parties for attending the hearing. All parties then left the Meeting. The Committee then considered the evidence that had been given at the hearing and viewed the location of the premises and the surrounding area on screen. After consideration by the Members it was Resolved that: To application for a New Premises Licence – Alma Stores, 7 Alma Street, Dowlais be granted subject to such conditions modified to such extent as the Authority considers necessary for the promotion of the Licensing objective.
The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.
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