Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs L Hodgson be appointed Chair.

COUNCILLOR MRS L. HODGSON IN THE CHAIR

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To consider an application for the grant of a static Street Trading licence, to trade from the junction of Blackpole Road and Cosgrove Close, Worcester WR3 8UA.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Street Trading Licence, made by Mr Omer Tekeagac on behalf of ‘Istanbul Kebab’, to operate from from the junction of Blackpole Road and Cosgrove Close Worcester.

At the start of the hearing, the Chair made the following statement: “Presentations to this Sub-Committee are not given under oath. However, I would like to remind all parties that the highest standards are expected and any deviation from these high standards could possibly influence any decision of the Sub-Committee.”

All parties at the hearing introduced themselves. Mr Tekeagac confirmed he had chosen not to have any legal representation, and that he was satisfied with the proposed procedure.

It was noted for the record that Cllr Owen Cleary was in attendance at the hearing, to make representations on behalf of local residents. Cllrs Barnes, Lucy Hodgson and Stephen Hodgson acknowledged that they knew Cllr Cleary as a fellow Worcester City Councillor, but had no prior communication with him regarding the application or the hearing.

The Technical Officer (Licensing) presented the report on behalf of Worcestershire Regulatory Services. On 28^th April 2022 an application had been received from Mr Tekeagac for a Static Street Trading Licence to sell food and cold drinks from 16:00 to 23:00 Monday to Sunday.

No representations had been received from statutory consultees. Five representations were received in response to public notices, objecting to the application. Of these objections, one was from a nearby trader, Lucky’s Lunchbox, objecting on business grounds, the other four were from nearby local residents citing a range of issues.

Panel Members were reminded that a Street Trading licence should normally be granted unless

a)   there is not enough space in the street for the applicant to engage in the trading in which he desires to engage without causing undue interference or inconvenience to persons using the street;

b)   there are already enough traders trading in the street from shops or otherwise in the goods in which the applicant desires to trade

and that other objections relating to traffic, parking, litter etc should be disregarded for the purposes of the hearing.

All parties were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Technical Officer (Licensing).

Mr Tekeagac was invited to address the Sub-Committee in support of his application. In response to objections received from Lucky’s Lunchbox regarding competition for customers, he stated that his proposed trading times of 4pm to 11pm would not overlap with those of Lucky’s Lunchbox, which were 7.30am to 3pm. There should therefore be no issue with the two outlets competing for the same customers.

The Legal Advisor sought clarification on the types of food offered by Lucky’s Lunchbox, and was advised it sold hot and cold sandwiches and soft drinks, mostly to employees of nearby factories and businesses during their lunchbreak.

Mr Tekeagac responded to comments from neighbours about the potential for noise disturbance from his trailer, confirming that the power generator was to all intents and purposes silent.

Members of the Sub-Committee were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.