The Hounslow Council Licensing Panel met to discuss a temporary street trading licence application and to appoint a chair. Councillor Dan Bowring was appointed Chair of the meeting. The panel refused a temporary street trading licence for YFC (Your Food Court) due to concerns about public safety, waste disposal, and the applicant's preparedness to manage the business.

YFC (Your Food Court) - Temporary Street Trading Licence Application

The panel refused an application for a temporary street trading licence for YFC (Your Food Court), which was to be positioned on the public highway opposite 109 Bath Road in Hounslow. The applicant, Lina Travassos, sought the licence to sell hot fast food takeaway, described as Goan-style food, from a stall on the public highway, Monday to Sunday between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm.

The decision to refuse the application was based on several factors:

• Incomplete Application: The panel found that Ms Travassos failed to provide all the necessary details required by the council, specifically regarding the location of street furniture, bus stops, and trees within a 200-metre radius of the proposed site, as outlined in paragraph 4.19 of the council's Street Trading Policy.
• Public Safety: The panel raised concerns about Ms Travassos's proposal to operate the stall alone for up to 12 hours a day, questioning how she would manage rest breaks and ensure the stall's management during her absence. This led the panel to conclude that the applicant had not adequately considered public safety, contrary to Policy S.11 (a).
• Waste Disposal: The panel noted that Ms Travassos had not provided sufficient information regarding rubbish collection and waste disposal, including failing to nominate an authorised commercial waste contractor, as required by paragraph 2.11(f) of the Street Trading Policy.
• Food Storage: The panel found that Ms Travassos had failed to provide or identify suitable or adequate arrangements for storing food on site, contrary to section 2.10 (k) of the policy.
• Management of Business Affairs: The panel considered that Ms Travassos failed to demonstrate adequate preparedness to manage the business affairs of the proposed trading activity. They stated that her responses during questioning were unstructured and lacked detail, giving the Panel limited assurance of her ability to comply with the standards required of licence holders.

During the hearing, Ms Travassos, assisted by Vincent Fernandez from the charity Saint Vincent de Paul, argued that her proposed stall, measuring 2.5 metres, was smaller than existing structures like a tree and a cycle stand and would not obstruct pedestrian movement. She also addressed concerns about the map submitted with the application and the suitability of alternative locations.

Sudhir Bhatt, Regulatory Compliance Officer, had submitted a representation stating that the proposed site was in a residential area with heavy footfall and that placing the stall would impede pedestrian access.

The panel referenced several sections of the London Borough of Hounslow Street Trading Policy, including Section 6 (Suitability of Applicants) and Section 7 (Management of Business Affairs), which require applicants to demonstrate competence, reliability, and responsibility in their business operations.

The panel concluded that the concerns about Ms Travassos's readiness and competence also fell within the discretionary grounds for refusal outlined in Section 2.10(e) of the policy, which allows the council to refuse an application if the proposed trading activity would adversely affect the general amenity of the area.

The decision of the sub-committee is final, as there is no right of appeal for temporary street trading applications.

Appointment of Chair

Councillor Dan Bowring was appointed Chair of the Licensing Panel for the meeting. He thanked Councillor Gabriella Giles and Councillor Hira Dhillon for attending.

Declaring Interests

Councillors were reminded of the need to declare any pecuniary interests¹ relating to matters discussed at the meeting, as outlined in the Monitoring Officer Note on Interests.