The Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee of Newham Council is scheduled to consider an application to vary a licence for Food and Wine Costcutter, located at 169 High Street North, East Ham, E6 1JB. The committee will also address declarations of interest and confirm their meeting procedures.

Food and Wine Costcutter Licence Variation Application

The primary focus of the meeting is expected to be an application to vary the premises licence for Food and Wine Costcutter, located at 169 High Street North, East Ham, E6 1JB. The applicant, Rajah Sounthararajah, is seeking to extend the hours for the supply of alcohol and amend a condition related to the minimum size of spirit bottles sold.

Specifically, the application proposes to extend the Sunday alcohol supply hours to run from 08:00 to 23:00, aligning with the current Monday to Saturday hours. Additionally, the applicant wishes to change a condition that currently states Spirits should not be sold in bottles of less than 35cl to Spirits should not be sold in bottles of less than 20cl .

The report pack indicates that one resident has made representations against the application, citing concerns related to crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, protection of children from harm, and public safety. The report also notes that the premises falls within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ)¹. The committee will need to be satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed variations will not negatively impact the licensing objectives.

The report pack also provides background on the premises' licensing history, including a previous review in June 2024. This review resulted in the imposition of further conditions on the licence due to concerns about the sale of high-strength alcohol and large quantities of small spirit bottles to street drinkers. The current licence is also included for reference.

The committee will hear and determine this application, considering any valid representations made. The procedure for the hearing is outlined, including presentations from the Licensing Officer, any Responsible Authorities, and Interested Parties, followed by the applicant's case and deliberation. The decision, along with reasons, will be announced publicly.