The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing regarding a new Premises Licence application.

The Hearing Panel considered the written papers and oral representations made by the Applicant as well as the relevant legislation and guidance.

The applicant addressed the Hearing Panel, informing them of a visit by Trading Standards on May 23 2022. They were carrying out a search warrant on the premises following a test purchase exercise on May 1 2022 that found illicit tobacco products being sold. During the search warrant, no illicit tobacco products were found. The applicant claimed that it was not themselves who had sold anything illegal as they have family to look after.

During questioning, Trading Standards sought to establish further information on the sale of illicit tobacco product, and CCTV issues, particularly the failure to provide on request CCTV footage. The applicant stated that they were unaware of illicit tobacco being sold on the premises. They informed the Panel that it was another member of staff who did it whilst they were not at the premises. That member of staff had only been employed for 3 weeks and was left unsupervised that day. In terms of CCTV, the applicant informed the panel that the cameras covering the shop floor and till are not on the main CCTV system but are on the applicant’s phone. When questioned about why they had not kept CCTV footage for at least 28 days, as per the Licensing condition, the applicant stated that the footage had been removed by the staff member who had sold the illicit tobacco, who is no longer employed by the business. The applicant had provided an assurance to Trading Standards that CCTV footage would be provided, but that has yet to materialise.

LOOH sought to establish why the CCTV was on two separate systems. The applicant stated that the CCTV on his phone is also a security alarm. LOOH then asked if, following a previous visit where 3 Licensing conditions were failed, anything had been done to rectify that. The applicant stated that staff had received extra training.

GMP then questioned who was training the staff member the day they sold illicit tobacco and if they had received training on CCTV. The applicant stated that their training period was complete, but they had not been trained on the use of the CCTV. GMP then asked how the employee could delete the footage without training. The applicant stated that they had removed the memory card.

The Panel then sought clarity on how long the staff member had been employed, what areas of the shop the CCTV covers and how the footage was removed. The applicant stated the employee had worked there for around 3 weeks to a month. The CCTV covers the till and the aisle to the back room. The footage was removed via the removal of a memory card.

Trading Standards then addressed the Hearing Panel, informing them that the premises had been brought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Hearing Panel were informed that all objections had been withdrawn and therefore no decision was necessary.