Agenda and minutes

The Chair will open the meeting and welcome all present.

The Chair opened the hearing and introduced Members of the Sub-Committee and Officers present.

The Chair invited all those parties present to identify themselves.

To receive apologies for absence and the details of any Councillor nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member listed.

No apologies for absence were received.

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

No declarations of interest were received.

To consider an application for a Premise Licence made by ASDA, Jinnah Road, Smallwood, Redditch, B98 7ER

(Report attached)

The Sub-Committee was asked to consider an application for a new premises licence made by ASDA Stores Limited for ASDA, Jinnah Road, Smallwood, Redditch, B98 7ER for the hours as stated on the operating schedule as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

The application was subject to a hearing in light of four representations being received from local residents.  The representations related primarily to:-

·         Public safety of the residents of the surrounding areas

·         Public nuisance from drinkers leaving the town centre to obtain more drink from Asda

·         An increase in anti-social behaviour in the area

·         An increase in noise pollution in the area

·         An increase in crime and disorder in the area

·         Anti-social binge drinking

·         The protection of children from harm

·         Potential for an increase in litter in the area

·         The proliferation of drugs in the area

The Technical Officer (Licensing), Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) introduced the report and in doing so informed the Sub-Committee that four representations had been received.  The Technical Officer (Licensing), WRS further informed the Sub-Committee that no representations had been received from any of the Responsible Authorities.

Mr R. Taylor, Gosschalks Solicitors, the applicant’s representative, spoke in support of the application.  He informed the Sub-Committee that Asda Stores Limited currently had 580 stores across England, Wales and Scotland; of which 250 were 24hr. stores.  To his knowledge none of these stores had been subject to any application for review of their licences.

Mr Taylor highlighted that the recent planning permission granted by Redditch Borough Council to Asda, Jinnah Road, Smallwood, Redditch, B98 7ER had recommended that Redditch Borough Council Officers negotiated and agreed a satisfactory alternative proposal to the proposed 24hr. opening times.  Therefore the store would be bound by the opening hours agreed on the planning conditions.

In response to the concerns raised by residents, Mr Taylor explained that the late night refreshment offered would not be from a burger van or café.  The application had requested late night refreshment; this was required as the store would have an in house bakery and cooked items such as rotisserie chicken for immediate sale.  Therefore a licence for late night refreshment was a requirement of their application as food could still be hot when purchased by customers early morning or late evening. 

With regard to CCTV, Mr Taylor informed Members that, as detailed in Section M of the operating schedule, the premises would have internal and external CCTV cameras.  CCTV recordings would be kept for 31 days and handed to the police or authorised person upon request.  The store would operate a Challenge 25 policy backed up by the till system.  Check out operators had to be over 18 years of age; all check out staff were fully trained on Asda policies and procedures and provided with refresher training.  In all major stores there was a community colleague who liaised with the community.

Mr Taylor further reiterated, as stated by the Technical Officer (Licensing), WRS, that no representations had been received from any of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.