Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

It was confirmed that items marked Part I would be considered in public.

None.

Introduction by Licensing Officer

Steven Dormer, Licensing Officer at London Borough of Hillingdon introduced the report, photographs and addendum relating to a review of the premises license for Strawberry Local, 2-3 Gloucester Parade, Bourne Avenue, Hayes, UB3 1PR.

The London Borough of Hillingdon's Trading Standards team along with the Metropolitan Police carried out operations at various premises throughout the Borough and seized illicit tobacco products from Strawberry Local. This application for review had been made by the Trading Standards team, the applicant, to consider a review of the premises licence under section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Mr Dormer confirmed that a visit had been undertaken by the Officers on Monday 3 July 2017 and the licence conditions appeared to be complied with. No follow up visits were made after the visit in December 2016. The Licence Holder had been cooperative when Officers visited the site and it was suggested that further conditions modifying the premises licence may help with protecting the public. Further visits from Officers in the future would also establish if the Licence Holder was complying with new conditions.

Representation by Applicant for the review

Kiran Seyan, Trading Standards Investigating Officer addressed the Sub Licensing Committee. The application had been submitted in support of the Licensing Objective: Prevention of Crime and Disorder.

Following complaints, on 7 December 2016, Officers from Trading Standards and the Metropolitan Police accompanied by Canine sniffer dogs conducted inspections of premises suspected of selling illicit goods. Concealed tobacco products were seized by Trading Standards and found in a printer copier behind the till, at the lower end of the tobacco gantry and in the Licence Holder's vehicle. Tobacco seized included 3650 cigarettes, 1580 grams of hand rolling tobacco, 14 sachets of chewing tobacco. Following the inspection the seized items were sent for confirmation to the brand representatives and it was confirmed that 60 Richmond cigarettes and 80 grams of the hand rolling tobacco were genuine. These items were returned to the Licence Holder on 19 May 2017. The other tobacco seized was confirmed to be counterfeit and non duty paid.

The Sub - Committee was invited to consider the Trading Standards recommendation that the licence be suspended for a period of time deemed suitable for the Licence Holder to comply with the conditions proposed by Trading Standards and the Licensing Officer.

Representation by the Licence Holder

Mr Panchal, on behalf of the Licence Holder Mr Dildar Singh Soni, submitted representations to the Sub Committee. He stated that the Licence Holder had held the licence since 2014. There had been no breaches of conditions or licensing matters during this period. The License Holder apologised for his actions.  Once he had realised his error and following the inspection in December 2016, the Licence Holder had taken action to ensure that he is complying with the licence. He purchased his goods from registered suppliers and ensured that training manuals were in place. He also promoted the four licensing objectives and operated the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.