Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

None.

It was confirmed that all items of business were marked Part I and would be considered in public.

None.

Introduction by Licensing Officer

Mark McDermott, Licensing Officer at the London Borough of Hillingdon, introduced the report relating to the new application for a premises licence for Fusion Tadka Limited, 36 High Street, Northwood, HA6 1BN. The background and chronology of events was provided. Members were informed that the previous premises licence had lapsed in January 2020, and the Applicant, Mr Dip Bharatkumar Sukhadiya was the new business owner.

The new licence applied for mirrored the previous one with an additional request for recorded music to be played until 23:30 hours. Officers were recommending that the licence be granted with additional conditions.

Representation by Applicant / Applicant’s representative

Mr Surendra Panchal, the Applicant’s agent representative and Mr Sukhadiya, Applicant, addressed the Committee, and confirmed that the Applicant had made the application for the premises licence independently. Members were informed that the Applicant, Mr Sukhadiya, was very experienced in the licensed trade as he already owned an off licence and had always upheld the licensing objectives. He had no connection with the previous owner.

The Committee was advised that the Applicant agreed with all the proposed conditions. It was confirmed by the agent that alcohol would only be served with a meal, Challenge 25 would replace Challenge 21, no more than five people would be permitted to smoke in the smoking area at the front of the restaurant and full licensing objectives would be promoted.

In response to Members’ requests for clarification, it was confirmed that Mr Sukhadiya would be the Designated Premises Supervisor, and had considerable experience in the licensed trade, having run two convenience stores since 2008 and a restaurant / sports bar in Stanmore since 2019.

Mr Sukhadiya confirmed that he would be devoting the majority of his time to running his new business. The Committee questioned how the Applicant as the proposed DPS, would be able to spilt his time between the different venues, and manage the licensable activities he sought in this application. Mr Sukhadiya reassured Members that he had other business partners at his other business locations, and would therefore be able to manage this business and its licensable activities. Mr Sukhadiya was open to discussing concerns with the local residents.

There was disparity between the Agent and the Applicant representations on the circumstances under which  Alcohol would be served. The Agent confirmed that alcohol would be served to customers having a sit down table meal, whereas the Applicant stated that he would welcome customers attending the Premises to have alcohol at the bar with a snack. The Applicant subsequently retracted his statement and agreed with the Agent that alcohol would only be served to customers having a sit down table meal

It was noted by the Committee that, in the registration at Companies House, the business description included Club operation. The Agent confirmed that this new business would be operating as a restaurant / takeaway not as a Club and drinks would be served exclusively to those ordering a meal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.