The Canterbury City Council Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to discuss several items, including the review of a premises licence and the confirmation of minutes from previous meetings. The most significant item on the agenda is the review of the premises licence for the Star of Bengal restaurant in Whitstable following an application from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement. The Sub-Committee will also note the order of business for all premises licence cases to be heard during the meeting.

Here's a breakdown of the key topics:

Licensing Act 2003 - Review of the Premises Licence for Star of Bengal

The Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider an application to review the premises licence for the Star of Bengal, located at 36 Harbour Street, Whitstable CT5 1AJ. The application for review was made by the Home Office Immigration Licensing Enforcement Compliance Team, and the grounds for review are based on the prevention of crime and disorder.

According to the application for review, detailed in the Public Reports Pack, a visit to the premises on 11 December 2024 by the South East Immigration Compliance Enforcement (ICE) team encountered two individuals who were working illegally. One did not have the right to work in the UK, and the other was working in breach of their bail conditions.

The report pack states that a civil penalty of £45,000 was issued to Shapla Tandoori Whitstable Ltd, the licence holder, on 27 February 2025 for employing an individual without the right to work in the UK. The penalty remains unpaid and has been referred to a third-party debt collection agency.

The Home Office Immigration Enforcement states that its objective in applying for the review is the prevention of crime and disorder, and that it believes the licence holder has failed to meet this licensing objective. The report pack includes a representation from Riaz Ali, Director of The Moghul Restaurant Whitstable Ltd, who states that his company began operating at the address on 27 January 2025, also trading as Star of Bengal, and that neither he nor his company were linked to the engagement of illegal workers.

The Sub-Committee is empowered to take various steps, including:

• Taking no action
• Modifying the conditions of the licence
• Excluding a licensable activity from the scope of the licence
• Removing the designated premises supervisor
• Suspending the licence for a period not exceeding three months
• Revoking the licence

The Public Reports Pack includes associated papers such as the premises licence, a blue notice, the application for review and supporting documentation, and relevant representations.

Order of Business

The Sub-Committee will note the order of business for all premises licence cases to be heard during the meeting. The Licensing Sub Committee Review Order Of Business document outlines the procedure for the review, including introductions, representations from the applicant, responsible authorities, other persons, and the premises licence holder, followed by a summary and consideration of the application.

Confirmation of Minutes

The Sub-Committee will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meetings held on:

• 23 April 2025
• 23 July 2025
• 27 August 2025

The minutes from the meeting on 23 April 2025, which are included in the Public Reports Pack, indicate that Councillor Mike Bland, Chair, Councillor Dane Buckman, Councillor Jeanette Stockley and Councillor Liz Harvey were present. The minutes from the meeting on 23 July 2025, which are included in the Public Reports Pack, indicate that Councillor Bland, Chair, Councillor Harvey, Councillor Harry McKenzie and Councillor Old were present. The minutes from the meeting on 27 August 2025, which are included in the Public Reports Pack, indicate that Councillor Bland, Chair, Councillor Harvey and Councillor Jean Butcher were present.