Agenda and minutes

Councillor McPherson was appointed as Chair for the meeting. 

No declarations of interest were made.

All parties noted the procedure.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Support Team Leader presented the report and outlined the application for the review of the Premises Licence of Luxa Sparkles, 103 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Support Team Leader advised that on the 18 April 2024 an application was submitted to the Licensing Authority to change the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) to Luxa Shiny Mariflo with immediate effect. The Police were made aware of the application and had until 2 May 2024 to make any objections. In response to a Member question, advised that the Police had not raised any objections to date regarding the change to the DPS. 

Chief Immigration Officer

Mr Mehmi made the following points:

      i.         Noted the Sub Committee had read through the Committee report and would summarise their main points.

    ii.         Advised that the Immigration Enforcement Team was an intelligence lead service and that there needed to be significant concern for them to take action.

   iii.         In this case their concerns were:

a.    the illegal worker who was arrested at the premises; and

b.    the fact that the illegal worker was the only person in charge of the sale of alcohol and other illegal items at the premises. 

  iv.         Their Team received an allegation of an illegal worker being employed at the premises. An Enforcement Team visited the premises on 20 November 2023. One person was identified who did not have permission to work in the UK. Further information was contained within the agenda pack.

    v.         The DPS in charge at the time of the enforcement visit had not undertaken right to work checks.

  vi.         Referred to the Trading Standards report and queried what systems had been put in place regarding the sale of alcohol and other items to prevent crime. 

 vii.         Commented that verification of a person’s right to work in the UK could be done relatively quickly.

viii.         Had concerns around how the business was being run following the Enforcement Team’s visit in November. A person without the right to work in the UK was found at the business; although a no action notice was issued, further representations were made by Trading Standards.

  ix.         The Licensing Objective to Protect Children from Harm had been undermined as the illegal worker who was in charge of the premises had not received training on age restricted products and sold a vape to an underage individual during a test purchase. (Referred to the Trading Standards Officer’s witness statement at pages 12 and 13 of the agenda). 

    x.         Noted on a previous visit undertaken by Trading Standards in August 2023, that a similar person who fitted the description of the person encountered by the Immigration Enforcement Team at their visit in November was found to have served an underage person.

  xi.         Asked for the Premises Licence to be revoked; did not feel other options available were sufficient to act as a deterrent.

In response to a member’s question advised that they believed the statement made on page 23  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/13/Lic