The Licensing Sub-Committee of Merton Council met on 21 July 2025 to consider a new premises licence application. The sub-committee was scheduled to determine the application, taking into account the Licensing Act 2003, the licensing objectives, guidance issued by the Secretary of State, and Merton's Licensing Policy. The meeting was held virtually.

Oniri Couriers Ltd, 9 Greenwood Road, Mitcham, CR4 1PF

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss an application from Oniri Couriers Ltd for a new premises licence at 9 Greenwood Road, Mitcham, CR4 1PF. The applicant described the premises as a delivery business operating from a residential house, delivering alcohol, snacks and products.

Oniri Couriers Ltd applied for permission to supply alcohol for consumption off the premises during the following hours:

• Sunday: 7pm to 1am the following morning
• Monday to Thursday: 7pm to 2am the following morning
• Friday and Saturday: 8pm to 5am the following morning
• Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: 8pm to 2am the following morning

The report pack included the application and associated plan as Annex A. Annex B contained possible conditions that could be created from the operating schedule of the application.

The application stated that the company would take the following steps to promote the four licensing objectives¹:

a) General – all four licensing objectives (b, c, d and e) (please read guidance note 10)

G01: There will be no access to these licensed premises by members of the public at any time whilst the premises licence has effect.

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b) The prevention of crime and disorder

CD01: No person can purchase alcohol at the premises. All alcohol sales are to made online or via an ordering app.

CD02: The age verification policy of the company shall be prominently displayed on the homepage of the company website.

CD03: All sales of alcohol for delivery must be paid for by credit card, debit card (pre paid or otherwise) or electronic payment.

CD04: Alcohol will only be sold for delivery; no direct sales or collections will take place at the premises.

CD05: A register of all alcohol sales will be maintained, including customer name, delivery address, and delivery date.

CD06: All alcohol will be securely stored within the premises with restricted staff access.

c) Public safety

PS1: All supply of alcohol will be in a sealed can/bottle/vessel/container.

PS2: No members of the public will be permitted to access the premises at any time.

PS3: The premises will comply with all relevant health and safety regulations for storage and handling of goods.

PS4: All deliveries will be carried out by reputable courier services with age verification policies in place.

d) The prevention of public nuisance

PN1: All deliveries and collections from the premises will be scheduled to avoid noise disruption to local residents.

PN2: No alcohol will be consumed on the premises.

e) The protection of children from harm

CH1: A robust age verification system will be in place at the point of sale on the website (e.g., age declaration checkbox and date of birth entry).

CH2: All deliveries of hampers containing alcohol will require age verification upon delivery in accordance with Challenge 25 or equivalent policy.

CH3: Staff involved in sales and dispatch of alcohol will receive training on age-restricted sales and record-keeping procedures.

The Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance Team submitted a relevant representation regarding this application, which was included as Annex D.

Correspondence between the Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance Team and the applicant was included as Annex C. In this correspondence, Michael Oniri, of Oniri Couriers Ltd, offered to reduce the requested hours of operation to:

• Sunday: 7pm to 1am the following morning
• Monday to Thursday: 8pm to 2am the following morning
• Friday and Saturday: 8pm to 4am the following morning

Mr Oniri also mentioned other procedures that the applicant would put in place, seemingly forming a Noise Management Plan as requested by George Wokorach, Noise & Nuisance Officer.

Mr Wokorach stated that the noise management plan did not adequately address noise issues, such as noise from cars/motorcycles, loud conversations, car radios, car doors slamming, and internal noise by staff. He said that, in his opinion, public nuisance would be significant and neighbours would have problems sleeping due to the noise. Mr Wokorach also raised concerns that the application was an inappropriate use of a residential dwelling and questioned whether planning permission for change of use had been granted. He recommended that the application should not be granted.