Licensing Sub Committee A was scheduled to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for The Co-operative, located at The Oval, Acklam, Middlesbrough. The review was initiated by the council's Environmental Health department due to concerns about public nuisance.

Review of Premises Licence for The Co-operative, The Oval, Acklam

The Licensing Sub Committee A was scheduled to consider an application for the review of the premises licence for The Co-operative, located at The Oval, Acklam, Middlesbrough TS5 8HP. The review was requested by Middlesbrough Council's Environmental Health department on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance.

The report pack indicated that the concerns related to noise and disturbance caused by third-party delivery drivers collecting orders between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm. Residents had reported issues such as loud conversations, vehicle doors slamming, engines idling, excessive music from vehicles, inappropriate parking, and drivers urinating in a nearby alleyway. These disturbances were reported to be causing sleep disturbance and affecting residents' enjoyment of their homes.

The report pack detailed that the premises licence holder, The Co-operative Group Food Limited, had proposed several amendments to address these concerns. These included reducing the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol from 06:00 to 23:00 hours to 06:00 to 22:00 hours. Other proposed conditions included the installation and maintenance of a CCTV system, operation of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme, maintenance of an incident log, and comprehensive staff training.

Various representations were received regarding the review application. These included representations from local residents, Councillors Jim and Sharon Platt, and Cleveland Police, who supported the review application on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and protecting children from harm. Some residents also submitted correspondence expressing support for the premises licence holder.

The report pack noted that a minor variation application, incorporating the proposed amendments, had been submitted by the Premises Licence Holder and was granted on 8 September 2026. Correspondence from Cleveland Police, Councillors Jim and Sharon Platt, and some residents indicated their satisfaction with these amendments and the withdrawal of their representations. However, representations remained from other residents, and Middlesbrough Council's Environmental Health had not yet withdrawn theirs, although they indicated satisfaction with the amendments.

The report pack also provided background information on the premises, which has held a licence since 2005 and has been held by The Co-operative Group Food Limited since 2008. The report referred members to relevant sections of the council's Licensing Policy and statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State, including a recent addition to the guidance concerning the promotion of growth and economic benefits.

The committee members were presented with several options, which they were scheduled to consider. These included modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the Designated Premises Supervisor, suspending the licence, or revoking the licence. Alternatively, they could issue an informal warning and recommend improvements.

The meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 10:00 am in the Mandela Room at the Municipal Buildings. The attendees included Tim Hodgkinson, Robert Armstrong, Joanne Dixon, Steven Wearing, Councillor Linda Lewis (Armed Forces Champion), Claire Jones, Vicki Alexander, Fiona Helyer, Catherine Cunningham, Thomas Durance, and Rachael Townsend. Councillor Linda Lewis was listed as the Chair of the committee.

The public reports pack for this meeting can be accessed here: Public reports pack 22nd-Sep-2026 10.00 Licensing Sub Committee A. The agenda frontsheet is available here: Agenda frontsheet 22nd-Sep-2026 10.00 Licensing Sub Committee A.