To consider an application for the review of a Premises Licence in respect of Tops Pizza, 10 Wokingham Road, Reading.

The Head of Planning, Development and Regulatory Services submitted a report on an application by Home Office Immigration Enforcement for the review of the Premises Licence in respect of Tops Pizza, 10 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1JG.

The report stated that Home Office Immigration Enforcement had submitted the review of the Premises Licence due to the licence holder failing to uphold the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder, as illegal working had been identified at the premises.   The report detailed visits to the premises on 2 February 2018 when five individuals had been suspected of working illegally and on 20 April 2018 when three individuals had been found to be working illegally.  The report also detailed a lack of licensing compliance and use of best practice procedures and there had been no evidence that the licensing objectives had been actively promoted.

The application sought for the Premises Licence to be revoked.

A copy of the review application was attached to the report at Appendix I.

The report stated that representations had been received from Reading Borough Council Licensing Team and Thames Valley Police, which were attached to the report at Appendix II and III.

The report stated that the Premises Licence Holder was Tops Pizza Limited. 

The current Premises Licence, a copy of which was attached to the report at Appendix IV, permitted the following:

Hours for the Sale by Retail of Alcohol (off the premises)

Monday to Sunday                                           1100 hours until 2300 hours

Hours for the Provision of Late Night Refreshment (indoor and outdoor)

Sunday to Wednesday                                     2300 hours until 0100 hours

Thursday to Saturday                                      2300 hours until 0200 hours

Hours the Premises is Open to the Public 

Sunday to Wednesday                                     1100 hours until 0100 hours

Thursday to Saturday                                      1100 hours until 0200 hours

The report stated that in determining the application the Licensing Authority had a duty to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as follows:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The report stated further that in determining the application the Licensing Authority must also have regard to the representations received, the Licensing Authority’s statement of licensing policy and any relevant section of the statutory guidance to licensing authorities.  Further, in determining the application the Licensing Authority could take such of the following steps as it considered appropriate and proportionate for the promotion of the licensing objectives:

• Take no further action
• To issue formal warnings to the premises supervisor and/or premises licence holder
• Modify the conditions of the licence (including, but not limited to hours of operation of licensable activities)
• Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence
• Remove the designated premises licence supervisor
• Suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months
• Revoke the licence

(Where the Sub-Committee took a step mentioned in the third and fourth bullet points above it may provide that the modification or exclusion was to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19