Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2019 and to deal with any matters arising.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the Sub-Committee move into private session in order to receive legal advice when determining issues.  The parties to the hearing, press and the public, unless otherwise excluded by Category 4 of paragraph 10.4 of the Council's Access to Information Procedure Rules, would be invited to return immediately following that private session at which time the matter would be determined and the decision of the Sub-Committee announced.

Report of Service Director, Transactions and Universal Services detailing an application by Aspers Universal Limited to extend the period of a Provisional Statement for a large casino granted to them under the Gambling Act 2005

The Committee considered the report of the Service director, Transactions and Universal Services which detailed the application by Aspers Universal Limited to extend the period of a Provisional Statement for a large casino granted to them under the Gambling Act 2005.

James Andrew, Francesca Bennet and Martin Heslop QC, representing Aspers Universal Limited; Andy Granwell and Dishi Umfleet, representing Old Town Residents Association; Kay Labon, representing Old Town Community Forum; Irene MacWilliam, representing Friends of Town Quay Park,and Graham Linecar, representing Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society; were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the Committee.

The Committee heard an application by Aspers Universal Limited to extend the period of a provisional statement granted in respect of Royal Pier Waterfront Development, Mayflower Park, Southampton.  The provisional statement was granted for a period of three years on 22 March 2016.

The Aspers proposal was one part of what the Committee in its decision described as an ambitious and exciting one for Southampton.  It considered that the proposed casino and the scheme were apt for the site, attractive, thoroughly presented and justified, backed by credible participants and supported by a sufficient record of progression to enable the Committee to make a judgment about its likelihood of fruition.  On that occasion, the Committee also had the benefit of an Advisory Panel which included experts on the casino industry specifically and wider regeneration initiatives more generally.  It concluded that the Aspers proposal was likely to result in the greatest benefit to Southampton of all the schemes presented to it.

At the time of grant, the Committee determined that in accordance with Schedule 9 paragraph 10(3) of the Gambling Act 2005, the period of the provisional statement would be three years.  It stated that it expected Aspers to have applied for a premises licence for the proposal within that period.  It also noted that Aspers was entitled to apply for an extension of the period, which would enable it to explain the progress of the scheme.  It noted that this would enable the licensing authority to retain some control over the pace and timing of delivery.

In the event, no significant progress has been made towards delivery of the scheme.

The application

In its application dated 27 March 2019 for an extension of the period for a provisional statement, Aspers explained that the lack of progress of the wider scheme, and therefore its casino within the scheme, was due to circumstances beyond its control.  Specifically, the construction of the casino was wholly dependent upon the reclamation from the sea of the land upon which it would be built, and that work had not yet commenced.  It had stressed that it was as committed as ever to the venture.  It requested an extension of three years to the provisional statement.

Aspers provided further detail in its letter of 7^th May 2019.  It explained that the developer, RPW (Southampton) Limited undertook some limited activity in 2016, securing planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.