NIGHTCLUBS and pubs in Worcester are to come under closer scrutiny after the city council agreed to increase licence fees to fund more staff.

Members of the licensing committee approved proposals to increase fees by up to 700 per cent to fund two part-time enforcement officers.

The officers will enable staff from the council's environmental health department to carry out checks on city premises throughout the night. The hike will also apply to sports centres such as Nunnery Wood.

The new fee structure should increase income by £16,328, which will go towards the salary of the part-time enforcement officers.

Roy Fidoe, head of environmental health, told councillors action needed to be taken to ensure more checks were being carried out.

Under the scheme, nightclubs will have 12 checks each year, 10 of which will be unannounced, and pubs will be visited four times, three of which will be unannounced.

"The council can't make a profit on these increases, the funds we receive must be used for licensing," he said.

"Therefore the increases will fund improved enforcement through new staffing provisions.

"Officers will visit the premises enabling them to get a full picture of how the business operates and carry out checks on the premises and the vicinity. This will help us when applications come up for renewal.

"It will also mean we can go out and find premises which are not licensed, which is only fair and puts every business on a level playing field. It will also ensure officers understand the problems being faced by leisure businesses."

Councillor Richard Udall joined members in welcoming the move, adding although licensees would not like the increases, many had had the licence "on the cheap" up until now.

"The public will benefit and safety will increase," he said.