Agenda and minutes

“That, pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, whereby it is likely that exempt information as defined in Section 100 1 and Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 would be disclosed to the public”.

LICENSING ACT 2003

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE HEARING

Application for the Review of a Premises Licence: Abbies Pizza and Grill, 17 Sheep Market, Leek, Staffs, ST13 5HN.

The full decision notice of the Sub-committee is exempt by virtue of Part 1 paragraphs 1, Information relating to any individual and 7, Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime, of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.  This is a summary of their decision.

SUMMARY of DECISION NOTICE

Decision:      Tuesday 19^th March 2024

Present:

Members of the Sub-committee: Councillor K Hoptroff (Chair)

                                                                                                                                                            Councillor B Hughes

                                                                                                                                                            Councillor I Plant

The Home Office Immigration Enforcement Unit, applicant for review, represented by Mr James Harmsworth

Staffordshire Police, responsible authority, represented by Sgt James Finn

Abbies Pizza and Grill, the licence holder of which Mr Bilal Asam was represented by Mr Denis Tufour, solicitor of Simon Noble Solicitors.

The Licensing Authority represented by Mr Mike Towers

Also present:

Mr Bilal Asam Licence Holder

Mr Onur Asam, licence holder’s son

Ms Sirin Bilgi Translator

PC Kevin Perry, Staffordshire Police

Richard Jarman, Licensing Officer Staffordshire Police

Sandra Bradbury, Licensing Officer, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

Darren Wood, Licensing enforcement officer, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Nicola de Bruin, Solicitor for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

Premises: Abbies Pizza and Grill, 17 Sheep Market, Leek, Staffs, ST13 5HN      

Introduction

The hearing was held to determine an application for a review of the Premises Licence at Abbies Pizza and Grill, 17 Sheep Market, Leek, Staffs, ST13 5HN made by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Unit.  Representations were also received from Staffordshire Police.

The hearing commenced at 10:30am on 19 March 2023 at the Council offices in Leek. 

The Sub-committee determined that on balance the public interest was in favour of the public being excluded from the meeting due to pending prosecutions being considered in accordance with Regulation 14 of the The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 therefore the Sub-committee moved that members of the public be excluded, per Part 1 paragraphs 1, Information relating to any individual and 7, Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime, of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

None of the Councillors declared any interests in the subject matter of the review.

The Sub-Committee carefully considered the information contained in the report before them, CCTV footage presented by the police and verbal representations made to them by the licensee’s solicitor, the licensee, the licensee’s son, the immigration enforcement officer, the police and the licensing officer.

During the course of the hearing the Home Office guidance to staff entitled ‘Preventing Illegal working in licensed premises and the Home Office role as a reasonable authority in England and Wales’ (v2), guidance to employers published by the Home Office ‘Code of practice on preventing illegal working: Right to work scheme for employers’, 13^th February 2024, and the cases of East  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.