The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider an application to transfer a premises licence and vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for Best One. This meeting will also include a procedural report from the Clerk.

Application to Transfer a Premises Licence and Vary a Designated Premises Supervisor for Best One

The committee is scheduled to consider an application to transfer the premises licence for Best One, located at 5-7 Boxmoor Road, Romford, RM5 2SH, and to vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). The applications were made by Mrs Gurmeet Kaur Hakimzada under sections 42 and 37 of the Licensing Act 2003¹.

The report pack indicates that the Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team has submitted an objection notice on behalf of the Secretary of State. This objection is made under section 42(8) of the Licensing Act 2003, which states:

Where the Secretary of State is given notice under subsection (5ZA) and is satisfied that the exceptional circumstances of the case are such that granting the application would be prejudicial to the prevention of illegal working in licensed premises, the Secretary of State must give the relevant licensing authority a notice stating the reasons for being so satisfied.

The Police have also submitted an objection notice to both the premises licence transfer and the DPS variation application. Their concerns are primarily related to the prevention of crime and disorder. The police report highlights that the contact details provided in the application appear to belong to Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada, rather than the applicant, Gurmeet Kaur Hakimzada. It is noted that Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada had a premises licence revoked in 2018 due to the seizure of illegal tobacco, and the licence was subsequently suspended, during which time alcohol sales continued. The police also raise concerns about the proposed applicant residing in Southall, West London, approximately 60 miles from the premises, suggesting that she may not exercise genuine day-to-day control. The police believe this arrangement could be a DPS transfer by proxy, undermining the accountability safeguards within the Licensing Act 2003.

The report pack includes details of previous civil penalties issued to GS Enterprises UK Limited, where Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada was a director, for employing individuals without the legal right to work in the UK. These penalties remain unpaid.

The Licensing Act 2003, Part 3, section 35, outlines the options available to the authority when relevant representations are made. These include holding a hearing to consider them, and then taking steps such as modifying licence conditions or rejecting the application. The report notes that if no steps are required, the application must be granted. The sub-committee must determine whether to grant or refuse the application to transfer the licence and vary the DPS. If the transfer is refused, the DPS variation will no longer be valid, and the licence will revert to its previous holder and DPS.

The report from the Clerk, available in the Agenda frontsheet 05th-May-2026 09.30 Licensing Sub-Committee, outlines the procedure for hearings under the Licensing Act 2003. This procedure details how representations are considered, the roles of participants, and the sub-committee's determination process.