The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council is scheduled to consider an application to vary the Designated Premises Supervisor for Food for Less, a premises in Edgware. The committee will also review the procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings.

Application to Vary Designated Premises Supervisor at Food for Less

A key item on the agenda is the consideration of an application to vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for the premises known as Food for Less, located at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0LR. The application has been submitted by Kappuccino (UK) Ltd, and the proposed new DPS is Mr Darius Andrei Solovastru.

The report pack indicates that the Metropolitan Police Service has submitted an objection to this application. The objection is based on concerns that the appointment of Mr Solovastru as DPS would undermine the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder. This concern stems from an ongoing review of the premises licence due to alleged serious criminal activity, including the storage of non-duty-paid tobacco, the sale of illicit medicines, and unlabelled alcohol. Police enquiries suggest that the proposed DPS may have been involved in the running of the premises during the period of alleged criminality.

The report pack also includes information regarding the current premises licence for Food for Less, which authorises the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption. The licence details the operating hours and conditions, including those related to CCTV, staff training, and the sale of alcohol.

The committee will need to consider the representation from the Metropolitan Police Service, the Statutory Revised Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy. The decision will focus solely on the crime prevention objective.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearings Procedure

The committee is scheduled to review the procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings. This procedure, outlined in the document LBBLicensingSubCommitteeHearingsProcedure_.pdf, is based on regulations made under the Licensing Act 2003 and is designed to ensure natural justice and a fair hearing. The procedure details the roles of the Chair, Governance Officer, and Licensing Officer, as well as the rights of applicants and other parties to present their cases. It also covers the process for deliberation and the announcement of decisions.