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Contact: Democratic Services - email: democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: None. |
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Declarations of interest in matters coming before this meeting Minutes: None. |
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To confirm that the items of business marked Part I will be considered in Public and items marked Part II will be considered in Private Minutes: It was confirmed that all items would be heard in Part I.
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Matters that have been notified in advance or urgent Minutes: None. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Licensing Team Managerintroduced the application submitted by Tesco Stores Ltd under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 for a new premises licence at Tesco Express, 34 Station Road, West Drayton, UB7 7BZ.
The application was for Sale of Alcohol: 06:00–00:00, Monday – Sunday; and Late-Night Refreshment: 23:00–00:00, Monday – Sunday.
The application was received by the Licensing Team on 13 November 2025 and the closing date for representations was 11 December 2025.
A local press notice was published on 19 November 2025, and six blue notices were displayed and verified around the High Street and Ferrers Avenue, meeting statutory advertising requirements.
A petition had been received from the lead petitioner, Ms Shabnam Asgar, on 10 December 2025. The original petition contained 127 signatures; however, only 21 signatures were deemed valid because each sheet must reference the licensing objectives and the premises concerned; and full addresses, including postcodes, must be provided. Verification phone calls were made to signatories. Twenty signatures were from West Drayton residents; one was from Hayes. Ms Asgar is also the current licence holder and Designated Premises Supervisor for West Drayton Convenience Store, 18A Station Road.
No valid representations had been received from Responsible Authorities.
Members asked if any Members Enquiries had been lodged. The Licensing Team Managerconfirmed that no enquiries or representations had been received by the deadline of 11 December 2025. An enquiry received after the closing date was not valid and the Ward Councillor was advised accordingly. There were no representations from responsible authorities.
APPLICANT
It was noted that individual signatories to the petition did not represent separate representations.
The application related to a Tesco Express, which was Tesco’s smallest store format, aimed at local residents and workers purchasing top?up shopping for approximately one to two days.
No responsible authorities had objected to the application.
A late-night refreshment licence was required only because hot drink vending machines used a token payment system. If the Sub?Committee wished to restrict late?night refreshment solely to vending machine usage, Tesco would accept such a condition.
The Licensing Act presumes the granting of applications unless there was evidence?based justification to restrict. Responsible Authorities were experts in their fields; the absence of objections should be given substantial weight.
The Committee was referred to the plans in the agenda papers. Alcohol shelving was positioned in visible monitored areas near tills, and was only a small footprint within the store.
Tesco Express stocked a modest alcohol range (typically 80–120 products), with alcohol representing typically 5–14% of store sales (a notable exception was the store next to Lords Cricket Ground, which sold a high amount of champagne). Alcohol promotions were limited to meal?deal combinations; no standalone alcohol promotions were run in Express stores.
Intended opening hours were 06:00 - 00:00. The applicant noted that Sales of alcohol between 06:00–07:00 accounted for less than 0.01% of total sales in comparable stores. Highest alcohol demand typically occurs between 15:30 - 19:00.
Tesco operated approximately 2,500 Express format ... view the full minutes text for item 26. |
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