Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Ditta be appointed Chairman.

COUNCILLOR DITTA IN THE CHAIR

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To consider and determine an application for the grant of street amenity permission in respect of the Greggs Bakery, 10 The Shambles, Worcester.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for the grant of street amenity permission in respect of the Greggs Bakery, 10 The Shambles, Worcester.

At the start of the hearing, the Chairman reminded all parties that the highest standards were expected in reaching a decision on this matter.

All the parties to the hearing introduced themselves.  The applicants were not represented, and had requested that the hearing should proceed in their absence.  The Sub-Committee considered a letter from Mike Harwood, Shop Design Manager, dated 1^st October 2015, clarifying their position.

Vanessa Brown, for the Legal Services Manager, summarised the matter for consideration. She explained that the matter had been referred to the Sub-Committee for determination by Worcestershire Regulatory Services because representations were received from West Mercia Police Traffic Management and Worcestershire Regulatory Services (Health & Safety). Both had stated that they were unable to support the application due to restricted vehicular access through The Shambles, resulting in possible injury to patrons of the establishment.

At this stage of the hearing, the Chairman stated that Members of the Sub-Committee would undertake a site visit before proceeding to consider the hearing.  There followed an adjournment whilst the site visit was undertaken.  The hearing was then reconvened following the completion of the site visit.

Carl Phillips, Licensing Officer on behalf of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, was then invited to make representations.  In summary, he explained that the original application was to grant permission for use of tables and chairs to the front of the premises Monday – Saturday from 07:00 – 17:30 and Sunday 10:00-16:00.  The application was for 2 tables and 6 chairs.  The letter from Mike Harwood had clarified that the applicants were willing to amend the application so as to place the furniture out on the pavement only during the pedestrian zone times, i.e. 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.  They had also confirm that they had space to store the furniture during shop trading hours when not in use on the pavement.

There were no questions for Mr Phillips from any of the parties.

The representors were then asked to clarify whether their objections still stood in the light of the amendment to the application. Bob Haynes (representing West Mercia Police Traffic Management) and Helen Cameron (representing Worcestershire Regulatory Services - Health & Safety) were in attendance.   Both agreed that their principal concern was that the application initially submitted was to include hours during which traffic was free to use the highway. This had been a significant factor in their initial objection having regard to an incident which had resulted in a fatality in 2014.  With regards to the amended application both agreed that the reduction in hours addressed their main concerns.

In response to questions from Sub-Committee Members, Bob Haynes stated that he had no formal evidence to show that vehicles were entering the Shambles during the restricted hours, although other parties had advised him that delivery and refuse vehicles did not always leave by 10.10a.m. Enforcement was a matter for the Council.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.