Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

None.

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

None.

Introduction by Licensing Officer

Steven Dormer, Licensing Officer at the London Borough of Hillingdon, introduced the report and photographs relating to the application for a renewal of a Street Trading Licence at Tasty Perfect Meal, Springfield Road, Hayes. A background and chronology of events was provided.

The Committee was informed that, over a period of almost nine consecutive months, no trading had taken place from the catering facility along Springfield Road. The facility was an eyesore and did not enhance the street scene. This was contrary to 13.4 and 10.7(d) of the Council’s adopted policy on street trading. No reasonable excuse had been given to the Council as to why Mr Ahmed had chosen to abandon the facility and not trade from the location. On four occasions the Licensing Officer had personally witnessed and documented non-trading days on Springfield Road, Hayes. The Committee was advised that Mr Ahmed was potentially blocking other street traders from utilising the space.  

A recommendation was made to refuse the renewal of the Street Trading Licence.

Members requested clarification as to the number of times the Licensing Authority had emailed the applicant. It was confirmed that two emails and two letters had been sent.

Further clarification was requested in relation to the use of the term ‘eyesore’. Members were advised that the facility resembled a storage container at the side of the road and could effectively be treated as an abandoned vehicle. It was also confirmed that the Licensing Officer had had no face-to-face contact with the applicant since the original application was submitted two or three years previously.

Representation made by the Licence Holder

Mr Taufiq Ahmed Shafiq, applicant, addressed the Committee informing Members that he had been trading at the facility. He had closed during the period of Ramadan and business had been very slow since then but he had continued to serve breakfast. Mr Ahmed had then applied for another licence and had been told by the Licensing Officer to continue trading which he had done. He had subsequently stopped working as he did not have a licence and believed that he was not permitted to trade.

In response to Member’s questions, it was noted that Ramadan was in July 2019 and Mr Ahmed had not traded during that month. Since then he had been serving breakfast between 7:00am/7:30am and 9:30am/10:00am. He was obliged to renew his licence every six months and had applied for a new licence in October 2019 but had not been given one. He had continued to trade since October as he had been told he was able do so, but had not been open during the Christmas period, from 21^st/22^nd  December 2019 until 3^rd January 2020. Members were informed that, since New Year, business had been very slow and he had been in competition with another trader in the Wickes car park.

Discussion

·         The Licensing Officer confirmed that, when a street trading licence was due for renewal, the licence holder could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.