Agenda item

To consider a new Premises Licence application for Tesco Express, 614 Lords Wood Lane, Chatham, Kent. ME5 8QX following the submission of representations, received during the consultation period.

Discussion:

 

The Chairperson explained the process that the hearing would follow as outlined on page 4 of the agenda. 

 

The Senior Licensing Officer informed the Panel that on 27 August 2025 the applicant had applied for a new Premise Licence for Tesco Express, 614 Lords Wood Lane, Chatham, Kent ME5 8QX.  All responsible authorities had been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and two representatives had been received from members of the public.

 

The application was for:

 

Sale by Retail of Alcohol, Off Sales - Monday to Sunday 06:00 to Midnight

 

Late Night Refreshment –

Monday to Sunday 23:00 to Midnight

 

The Chairperson invited the applicant to speak in support of their application. 

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco stated they were planning on opening the Tesco store in January 2026 and Ashrafur Rahman who was also in attendance, would be the Store Manager.  This would be a Tesco Express Store, one of the smaller Tesco Stores.  It would be used as a convenience store where you could go and top up your weekly shopping.  

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco explained that they would employ 20 staff members, either full or part-time, and would advertise for local residents to apply first.  Recruitment would start about four weeks before the store opened.  Training on alcohol sales would be provided during the induction programme and refresher training provided twice a year. 

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco confirmed that they had a “Good Neighbour” Policy and would want to understand any issues early on from local residents and would be happy to join any Local Residents Association or Group meetings or for local residents to meet with the Store Manager to discuss any concerns.

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco confirmed that Tesco had policies and procedures in place regarding the sale of alcohol, which included an “Under 25” policy, where approved ID would be required and which was linked to a prompt on the till which checked the customer’s date of birth.  If it was observed that someone over 18 years of age was purchasing alcohol for someone under 18, alcohol would not be sold to them.

 

CCTV cameras were being monitored by operators and Tesco worked closely with the Police.   High costs items, such as alcohol, were tagged as they could be an easy product to steal.   Staff would wear body cameras and headsets and they were empowered to close a store if the need was required such as a football match with large footfall, the store could be closed on safety grounds.

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco confirmed that the late-night refreshment was for a Costa Coffee machine located within the store.

 

The licensing hours requested were 06:00 to midnight, Monday to Sunday, Tesco would then review the footfall and if needed could reduce those licensing hours. 

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco clarified that noise should not be an issue, as they were not expecting a large footfall late at night and if the same people were causing disturbances, they would not be served alcohol.

 

Regarding anti-social behaviour (ASB) there had been no objections from the Police.  If there were any issues, Tesco would work with the Police to resolve any problems.

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco confirmed that the litter bins, outside the store, would be emptied on a regular basis by Tesco staff.

 

The Chairperson asked the objectors if they had questions for the applicant and their concern was the selling of alcohol past 22:00. 

 

The Panel questioned the applicant:

 

The Panel were concerned with the excessive licensing hours, as another Tesco Store, only half a mile away, and had shorter licensing hours, why would you need to sell alcohol from 06:00 to midnight Monday to Sunday.  The Head of Licensing for Tesco responded that they worked on footfall and if that was not there, then they could reduce the hours in the future.  Having a licence for those hours would cater to all types of customers, Tesco’s would then be able to offer the whole of range of products to customers, when they needed them.  If customers were not able to buy alcohol, they may go elsewhere.

 

The Panel asked why there were no references to domestic abuse or violence, as alcohol was proved to fuel domestic abuse and allowing this licence would provide more opportunities to purchase alcohol.  The Head of Licensing for Tesco explained that she had no statistics regarding this, however, she was sure that Tesco’s had undertaken work regarding this.  The Panel asked whether signage could be located within the store regarding the dangers of drinking alcohol and even signage regarding the national advertisement “Ask for Angela”.

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco confirmed that staff would be provided with a one-day induction programme which would cover separate training on checkouts, shop floor and how to sell alcohol and ask for the required ID.  Staff were never left on their own, there were always other colleagues that could support them.  She stated that there would be 3 staff members on duty after 22:00.

 

The Panel had concerns about the number of other premises, selling alcohol, within a small area of these premises.  Allowing this licence, would that not be adding to alcohol-related problems.  

 

The Panel asked whether Tesco had had any conversations with the local Police around ASB, the Head of Licensing for Tesco stated they had not.

 

The objectors were then given the opportunity to express their concerns.

 

The member of the public had done a local search to see how many other premises were licensed and there were 19 licensed outlets within a 2 ½ mile radius of the application site, already selling alcohol.   Why would there be a need for another licensed premises. 

 

Concern was raised that the front doors of the store would face four neighbouring properties.

 

The availability of alcohol could lead to ASB.

 

The biggest concern was selling alcohol up to midnight each night, no other premises locally sold alcohol after 23:00.

 

The second member of the public spoke to the Panel, however, she brought new material to the hearing including crime statistics.  The Legal Advisor explained that the Panel could only take account of the written objections and not the new information. 

 

The applicant and Panel had no further questions for the objectors.

 

In summing up, one of the objectors stated there were also eight flats above the premises, would this affect the wellbeing of those residents.  

 

In summing up, the applicant thanked the objectors for all the work they had done in their presentations and if there were any further issues, please contact the store manager directly.  

 

The Head of Licensing for Tesco informed the Panel that if there was evidence of people drinking or being drunk in their premises or immediate vicinity, staff would move people on and would not sell them any more alcohol.

 

She also stated that they had not had any objections from the flats above or the police.

 

With the exception of the Legal Representative and the Democratic Services Officer, all present, left the room during the Panel’s deliberations, returning to hear the Panel’s decision.

Decision:

 

When considering this application, the Panel had due regard to Medway Council’s Licensing Policy, the Licensing Act 2003, particularly the Licensing Objectives and Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Act, together with supporting regulations.

 

The Licensing Committee had listened carefully to all the written and oral representations from the applicant and the objectors to the application.

Appropriate consideration was given to the written submissions only provided during the meeting by the objectors.

 

There were no representations from the Responsible Authorities.

 

The Committee was satisfied this application upheld the four licensing objectives and had decided to grant the licensing application, but upon reduced hours.

 

The granting of the licence was as per the standard conditions in the written application but with alcohol sales only permitted between the hours 09:00 until 23:00. This was to address the concerns of the immediate locality and to reflect the views of neighbouring residents.