To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report informing members of an application for the grant of a premises licence for Juz Mart, 31 Hale Road, Altrincham, WA14 2EY which had attracted representations from Licensing Enforcement, Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police.

Representations were made against the application by Licensing Enforcement and Greater Manchester Police.

RESOLVED: That the application for the grant of a premises licence be rejected.

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE DECISION NOTICE

Sub Committee         Councillor S.J. Haughey (Chairperson)         

Members:                   Councillor E.L. Hirst

                                    Councillor M.J. Welton

Applicant:                   YG Sing Ltd

Type of Licence:        Grant of a Premises Licence: Juz Mart, 31 Hale Road, Altrincham, WA14 2EY

Representors:                        Trading Standards

                                    E. Pritchard

                                    Licensing Enforcement

                                    B. Moran

                                    Greater Manchester Police

                                    PC Lloyd

Parties Present:        Licensing Enforcement

                                    B. Moran

                                    Greater Manchester Police

                                    PC Lloyd

Officers

Jade Pickup – Senior Licensing Officer

James Parry – Locum Litigation Lawyer

                                    Natalie Owen – Democratic Officer

                                    Georgia Thurston – Democratic Assistant

                                    Sophie Tomlinson – Democratic Assistant

Date of Hearing:     28 October 2024

Time Commence:      6.30 p.m.

Time Terminated:      6.45 p.m.

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE DECISION

The Sub-Committee decided that the representations received from Trading Standards, Licensing Enforcement and Greater Manchester Police were valid representations as they related to the prevention of crime and disorder, the protection of children from harm, public nuisance and public safety.

That the application be rejected.

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE’S REASONS FOR REACHING ITS DECISION

We considered the Licensing Act 2003 and regulations, the Guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy as well as the submissions from all parties, together with the written supporting documents that had been provided ahead of the hearing.

We heard from the Licensing Officer who presented her report.

The Applicant did not attend and was not represented.

We were satisfied that the statutory requirements regarding notices, advertisements and time limits had been complied with.

We noted that the applicant reached agreement with the Council’s Environmental Health department to modify the hours of operation of the premises prior to the meeting.

We noted the representations made by the Licensing Enforcement Unit, Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police that nine complaints had been received that the premises were being used for the sale of illegal vapes and the sale of those items to children between the 8^th July 2024 and 18^th September 2024. Those complaints were corroborated by the seizure of illegal products by Trading Standards on the 13^th September 2024 and by CCTV images, copies of which were provided to us which clearly show substantial numbers of children gathered outside the premises.

We were further concerned by the reports that the operator of the premises on the 13^th September 2024 was only able to produce a Malaysian driver’s licence rather than any evidence of a right to work in the United Kingdom. That male subsequently absconded from the premises, abandoning them to the care of the investigating officers.

We were informed that trading in illegal vapes is a substantial problem with Trafford and Greater Manchester and that several  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.