The Licensing Sub-Committee of Boston Borough Council was scheduled to consider a single application for a premises licence for Mr Tee's Local at 12 Red Lion Street, Boston. The meeting's agenda focused solely on this application, with supporting documents including the application form, a location plan, and representations from Lincolnshire Police.

Application for a Premises Licence: Mr Tee's Local, 12 Red Lion Street, Boston

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a premises licence for Mr Tee's Local, located at 12 Red Lion Street, Boston. The applicant, Perkins Newsagent Ltd, sought to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 06:00 and 22:00 from Monday to Saturday, and from 08:00 to 22:00 on Sundays. The proposed opening hours for the premises were to align with these times.

The report pack indicated that Lincolnshire Police had submitted a relevant representation raising concerns about the premises' location within an area covered by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) designed to tackle street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour. The police representation highlighted that Red Lion Street, along with Market Place and Central Park, are identified as hot spots for crime and anti-social behaviour, with alcohol being a significant contributing factor.

The applicant's operating schedule proposed several measures to promote the licensing objectives, including the installation of a tamper-resistant CCTV system, staff training on the Licensing Act 2003, the use of a refusals book and an incident book, and restrictions on the sale of super-strength alcohol and single cans of beer, lager, and cider. A Challenge 25 age verification policy was also proposed.

However, Lincolnshire Police's representation suggested that these proposed measures were not comprehensive enough given the premises' location and the issues in the area. They noted that many conditions recommended in Boston Borough Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, such as specific street drinking conditions, window visibility requirements, and the presence of a personal licence holder on the premises during operating hours, were not included in the application. The police also referenced previous licence refusals for premises in the nearby Market Place, where similar concerns about cumulative impact and the promotion of licensing objectives were raised.

Supporting documents included statements from Mr Peter Hunn, Boston Borough Council's Safer Communities Manager, and Inspector Ian Cotton of Lincolnshire Police, detailing the history and enforcement of the PSPO and the prevalence of alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Appendix E provided details of Centrepoint Outreach, a charity supporting vulnerable individuals, located across the road from the proposed premises. The report pack also contained extracts from the Licensing Act 2003 guidance and Boston Borough Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which outline the principles and expectations for licensing applications, particularly in relation to areas with existing issues such as street drinking.