The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday 13 May 2026. The primary focus of the meeting will be to consider an application to transfer a premises licence for Food for Less in Edgware. The committee will also review the standard procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings.

Application to Transfer Premises Licence for Food for Less

A key item on the agenda is the consideration of an application to transfer a premises licence for Food for Less, located at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0LR. The application has been submitted by Kappuccino (UK) Ltd, with the current licence holder being Mr Ciprian-Filaret Solovastru.

The report pack indicates that the Metropolitan Police Service has submitted an objection to this transfer. This objection is based on concerns that the transfer may undermine the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder. The police's representation highlights an ongoing review of the premises licence, initiated by Barnet Trading Standards, due to serious criminal activity identified at the premises. This activity reportedly includes the storage of large quantities of non-duty-paid tobacco, the sale of what appear to be prescription-only medicines and unlabelled alcohol, and a failed test purchase for illegal cigarettes. The police believe that granting the transfer at this stage could allow those responsible to evade accountability and continue these unlawful practices.

The Licensing Sub-Committee will need to consider the application in line with Section 44 of the Licensing Act 2003¹. This involves weighing the police's representation against the statutory guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003² and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy³. The committee has the power to either reject the application or grant the transfer, with the decision needing to promote the licensing objective of crime prevention.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

The committee is also scheduled to review the Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure. This document, available as LBBLicensingSubCommitteeHearingsProcedure_.pdf, outlines the framework for conducting hearings to ensure natural justice and a fair process. It details the roles of various officers, the procedure for presenting cases, and the process for deliberation and determination of applications.