The Licensing Sub-Committee of Redbridge Council was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Jolly Trends, a convenience store located at 66 Ilford Lane, Ilford. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the procedure for licensing hearings.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The committee was scheduled to discuss the established procedure for conducting licensing hearings. This procedure outlines the order in which evidence will be presented and considered, including the cases for the applicant, responsible authorities, and interested parties. It details the questioning process and the sequence for summing up arguments before the sub-committee retires to make a decision in private.

Application for a Premises Licence: Jolly Trends

The primary focus of the meeting was the application for a premises licence for Jolly Trends, located at 66 Ilford Lane, Ilford IG1 2JZ. The applicant, Mr. Srinivaasarao Nadipineni, trading as Jolly Trends, sought to be granted a premises licence for the supply of alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003. The premises is described as a convenience store, with the application specifying that alcohol would be for off-premises consumption only.

The proposed opening hours for the premises were Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 23:00, and Sunday from 08:00 to 22:30. Alcohol sales were proposed to align with these hours, with a slight adjustment on Sundays from 10:00 to 22:30.

The report pack indicated that representations had been received from Councillor Zulfiqar Hussain and Councillor Sahdia Warraich, both of whom raised objections to the application. Councillor Hussain's objections focused on the potential for increased anti-social behaviour (ASB), crime, public nuisance, and risks to public safety and the protection of children, citing existing issues on Ilford Lane and the proximity of a primary school. Councillor Warraich echoed these concerns, highlighting the prevalence of street drinking and the feeling of unsafety for women and families in the area, noting that Ilford Lane is within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ).

The report also detailed the legal and policy considerations relevant to the application. This included reference to the Human Rights Act 1998 and the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, particularly Chapter 6 concerning Cumulative Impact Zones (CIZs) and Chapter 7 regarding policies for off-licensed premises. The report noted that Ilford Lane is identified within a CIZ, which generally presumes refusal for new off-licence applications unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.

The report pack also included a list of agreed licence conditions between the applicant and the Licensing Enforcement Team. These conditions, if the licence were granted, would include requirements for CCTV, an incident book, a refusals book, adherence to a Challenge 25 age verification policy, staff training, and specific conditions for alcohol deliveries.

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider whether to grant the application, grant it with additional conditions, grant it in part, or reject it, having regard to the Statutory Guidance, the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, and all representations made.