Issue - meetings

Application for the transfer of a premises licence - Indian Villa Thaxted

Meeting: 01/10/2019 - Licensing and Environmental Health Committee (Item 2)

2 Application for the transfer of a premises licence - India Villa Thaxted pdf icon PDF 61 KB

To consider the application for the transfer of a premises licence – Indian Villa, Thaxted.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair invited the Licensing Team Leader to present the report.

 

The report set out the details of the India Villa’s application for the transfer of a premises licence, which had received an objection on 28 August 2019 from Essex Police under the Crime and Disorder licensing objective. The Police had set out their reasons for objecting to the transfer at Appendix B to the report, as on 21 June 2019 four persons were arrested for immigration offences who were working at the India Villa. The Police report stated that there were clear links between the existing and proposed Premises Licence Holder and suggested that a continuation of illegal working practices would continue if the licence was transferred.

 

In response to a question from the Solicitor, Mr Logue said he had read the papers and supported the Police’s objection to the transfer.

 

Mr Burke was invited to present the Police’s report to the Panel.

 

Mr Burke summarised the Police report. He reiterated that four persons working at the India Villa had been arrested on 21 June 2019 for immigration offences. It had not been the first time illegal workers had been found at the India Villa as on 14 June 2017 two illegal workers had been found on the premises. He added that the transfer was a ‘paper exercise’ and the Police believed that the existing and proposed licensee were connected. Thus, current management would continue to run the business in a manner that ignored the Immigration Act and breached the prevention of Crime and Disorder licensing objective.

 

In response to a member question, Mr Burke confirmed that Surma Villa Ltd was a single share company that had been transferred from a Mr Hussain to a Mr Hussain. He confirmed that they resided at the same address, although were of different age.

 

At the invitation of the Chair, Mr Logue said he had witnessed a “seamless transition” since the company had been transferred. He said the previous manager, Mr Hussain, was at the restaurant on a daily basis.

 

At 10am the Panel retired to deliberate.

 

At 10.15am the Panel reconvened and the Chair read the Decision Notice.

 

 

 

DECISION NOTICE –INDIA VILLA, 20 WATLING STREET, THAXTED (2)

 

The application before the Panel today is for a transfer of the premises licence of the India Villa restaurant, Watling Street, Thaxted. The application is dated 17th August 2019 and is opposed by Essex Police as the responsible authority, pursuant to the crime and disorder licensing objective.

 

We have a report before us and have considered the Licensing Act 2003,  the Home Office’s most recently Revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (April 2018) and Uttlesford District Council’s Statement of Licensing Act 2003 Policy 2017-22.  We also have before us a copy of the transfer application and of the Police objection, and note that the Applicant, the police and the previous licence holder have been notified of the hearing in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2