Agenda and minutes

To elect a Councillor from the Sub-Committee to act as Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Anita Clayton was elected as the Chair.

The Chair opened the meeting and introduced the Members of the Sub-Committee and Officers present.  The other parties present identified themselves follows:-

·         Mr Amarjit Singh Andev, the Applicant

·         Ms Charlotte Bull, Solicitor for the Applicant

·         Mr Ronald Bowen, local resident.

Apologies were received from Councillor Roger Bennett.  It was confirmed that Councillor Yvonne Smith who had been the reserve Member would sit on the panel in place of Councillor Bennett.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and/or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in the items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Sub-Committee were asked to consider an application for a Premises Licence in respect of premises at The Queens Head, 125 Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, B97 4RL

The application had been made by Mr Amarjit Singh Andev who in partnership with family members had acquired the Queens Head pub.  Subject to a Premises Licence being granted, the business plan for the pub was for it to be refurbished and operated as bar/ Indian food eatery.

The application had been referred for a hearing before the Sub-Committee in light of a representations made by three local residents who raised concerns regarding the operation of the premises by the previous licence holders.  Mr Ronald Bowen, one of the three persons who had made representations, had attended in order to address the Sub-Committee.

The Licensing Technical Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) introduced the report and in doing so explained that the previous Premises Licence for the sale of alcohol had been surrendered on 9^th August 2018.  Mr Andev had applied for a Premises Licence on 9^th November 2018.

Members were referred to the licensable activities for which the Applicant was seeking a licence, listed at paragraph 2.4 on page 2 of the agenda and set out below:-

The proposed hours of opening were 10:00 to 24:00 every day.

It was noted that the Application had been publicised in accordance with the statutory requirements, and that no representations had been made from any of the Responsible Authorities.

Three representations had been received from local residents, and Members were referred to these documents at Appendix 2 of the agenda.

At the invitation of the Chair, Ms Charlotte Bull from Glover Priest solicitors addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the application.

By way of background Ms Bull explained that Mr Andev had wanted to be represented to make sure that he was able to fully explain to the Sub-Committee his intentions with regard the new business he was intending to operate from the pub. In particular he wished to emphasise that he was an experienced business man and he fully intended to operate the pub as a proper business.

Mr Andev had spoken to residents living close to the premises, and as a result of this was aware of the historical problems that had occurred.  He was mindful of their concerns, as reflected by the representations, and wanted to ensure that his business would not create the same problems for the neighbours.  Ms Bull outlined the approach Mr Andev was intending to take and in doing so commented as follows:-

·         That the new business would be food led as opposed to operating as a traditional public house.  The intention was to provide a grill restaurant serving Asian style food.

·         Mr Andev was serious about his responsibilities as a Licence Holder.  He had attended training and understood the importance of the Licensing Objectives  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.