Agenda and decisions

To receive apologies from Members of the Sub-Committee.

The Chair to announce any items of urgent business circulated separately from the main agenda.

Members to declare any personal and financial interests in items on the agenda. Attention is drawn to the Council’s Constitution; the Council’s Code of Conduct and associated advice.

Members are requested to confirm as an accurate record the Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd November 2023.

No motion or discussion may take place upon the Minutes except as to their accuracy, and any question on this point will be determined by a majority of the Members of the body attending who were present when the matter in question was decided. Once confirmed, with or without amendment, the person presiding will sign the Minutes

Application for a Premises Licence

The Sub-Committee has determined an application for a New Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 (“The Act”) in respect of Asda Express, 15-17 Blackheath village, London, SE3 9LH (“The Premises”).

The Premises intends to operate as a small convenience store including the sale of groceries, household items, and alcohol. The application attracted a number of representations against it. These were from individual residents and the Blackheath Society Residents’ Association which informed the Sub-Committee that it represents over 1000 local residents. These were broadly concerned with the licensing objectives of the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder, although concerns were also raised in terms of public safety and the protection of children from harm.

In addition, there were a small number of representations in support of the application. These were also from local residents and addressed the licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee heard from the applicant’s representative, Mr Richard Taylor, who set out his points in three parts.

Firstly, he addressed the Applicant itself, Asda, which he said was a well-known company operating over 1000 stores with licences, serving millions of customers each week. He told the committee that since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003 Asda had never been subject to a licensing review, which he said was a testament to its policies and procedures.

Secondly, he said that this application was to breathe life into the former Lloyds bank by providing a small supermarket to serve the residents of Blackheath village. He said that the permissions were already in place to allow Asda to open this unit and sell groceries and household goods, and did not need further permission to do so. This application relates to around 15% of the store which would sell a limited range of alcohol so that customers who want to purchase wine or beer with their other items could do so. He highlighted that this was not an entertainment venue or a pub, or an off licence, but a convenience store with all the steps in place that one would expect from a responsible operator. Mitigations include two personal licence holders on the premises, lots of staff training, incident logs, CCTV outside the store, that no miniature bottles of alcohol will be sold, spirits will be behind the counter and the available range is specifically designed not to encourage street drinking or provide for that activity.

Finally, he addressed the Sub-Committee on the representations from residents. He said that it was notable context that there were no representations from any responsible authorities, who are the experts in the matters relating to the licensing objectives. He reminded the committee that the licence application had nothing to do with whether or not Asda could open a convenience store on the Premise. He pressed that parking issues are not to do with licensing, but that Asda did not seek to provide a ‘drive-to’ venue, and that regarding litter they were not offering takeaway food so it was difficult to see litter  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.