Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair of this meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor L Williams be elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the duration of the meeting.

Voting: Unanimous

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Matthews and P Sidaway. Councillors L Williams and D Farr attended as first and second reserve members.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The protocol for public speaking at Licensing Sub-Committee hearings is included with the agenda sheet for noting.

The protocol for public speaking was noted.

Arka Licensing Consultants have made application on behalf of Sudharron Ltd for a premises licence at Hengistbury Post Office, an established Post Office and general store, located at 106 Broadway, Southbourne.

The application seeks to permit off sales of alcohol between 06:00 and 23:00 each day of the week.

The application has attracted 45 representations and a petition with 132 signatures in the grounds that to grant the application would undermine all four licensing objectives – the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

Present: 

From BCP Council: 

Sarah Rogers – Senior Licensing Officer 

Johanne McNamara – Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee 

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub-Committee

Christiane Tan – Observing, Democratic Services 

The Chair made introductions and explained the procedure for the hearing which was agreed by all parties.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Arka Licensing Consultants had made an application on behalf of Sudharron Ltd for a premises licence at Hengistbury Post Office, an established Post Office and general store, located at 106 Broadway, Southbourne.

The application sought to permit off sales of alcohol between 06:00 and 23:00 each day of the week.

The application attracted 45 representations and a petition with 132 signatures on the grounds that to grant the application would undermine all four licensing objectives – the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

The following persons attended the hearing and addressed the Sub- Committee to expand on the points made in written submissions: 

Suresh Kanapathi – Licensing Consultant, Arka Licensing, representing the 

                                Applicant

Ramanathan Arulmoleaman – Applicant

The Sub-Committee asked various questions of all parties present and were grateful for the responses received. All parties had the opportunity to ask questions. All parties were invited to sum up before the Sub-Committee retired to make its decision. Before concluding the hearing, the Legal Advisor advised all parties of the right of appeal. 

RESOLVED that the application for a Premises Licence for the premises known as Hengistbury Post Office, 106 Broadway, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 4EH, to permit off sales of alcohol between 06:00 and 23:00 each day of the week. be GRANTED.

Reasons for Decision:

The Sub-Committee gave very detailed consideration to all of the information which had been submitted before the hearing and contained in the report for Agenda Item 5, including written representations relating to all four licensing objectives, and the verbal submissions made at the hearing by Sarah Rogers, Licensing Officer, Suresh Kanapathi, Arka Licensing Consultants, representing the Applicant, Ramanathan Arulmoleaman, the Applicant and Cllr Nanovo and Faith Gokogly, objecting to the application.

The Sub-Committee noted there had been 45 representations objecting to the application and a petition with 132 signatures submitted on the grounds that to grant the application would undermine all four licensing objectives – the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

In making its decision, the Sub Committee could only refer to the licensing objectives and were not able to place any relevance on need or characteristics of the neighbourhood in this instance.

The Sub Committee noted the fears expressed by residents that the premises was in a residential area and that an additional licensed premises could lead to an increase in crime and disorder and public nuisance, have an adverse impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider an application by Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) for the review of the premises licence.

HOIE have identified illegal working at the premises and no longer have confidence in the licence holder to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.

Section 36 and Schedule 4 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) amended the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) to introduce immigration safeguards in respect of licensing applications made in England and Wales on or after 6 April 2017. The intention is to prevent illegal working in premises licensed for the sale of alcohol or late-night refreshment.

Present: 

From BCP Council: 

Sarah Rogers – Senior Licensing Officer 

Johanne McNamara– Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee 

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub-Committee

Christiane Tan – Observing, Democratic Services 

The Chair made introductions and explained the procedure for the hearing which was agreed by all parties.

The Licensing Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.  

The Licensing Sub-Committee was asked to consider an application by Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) for the review of the premises licence for the premises known as ‘Wok4go’.

HOIE had identified illegal working at the premises and no longer had confidence in the licence holder to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.

Section 36 and Schedule 4 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) amended the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) to introduce immigration safeguards in respect of licensing applications made in England and Wales on or after 6 April 2017.  The intention was to prevent illegal working in premises licensed for the sale of alcohol or late-night refreshment.

The following persons attended the hearing and addressed the Sub- Committee to expand on the points made in written submissions: 

Fi Smythe – Immigration Officer

Stephen Morgan – Immigration Officer, observing for training purposes

James Andrews, Set Square Studio, representing the Premises Licence

                            Holder, Mr Rasi Khalil

Mr Rasi Khalil did not attend.

The Sub-Committee asked various questions of all parties present and were grateful for the responses received. All parties had the opportunity to ask questions. All parties were invited to sum up before the Sub-Committee retired to make its decision. Before concluding the hearing, the Legal Advisor advised all parties of the right of appeal. 

RESOLVED that having considered the application dated 28 April 2026, made by Home Office Immigration Enforcement, to review the premises licence for the premises known as ‘Wok4go’, 13 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EH, the Sub-Committee has decided that it is appropriate to revoke the licence on the grounds that the premises are not upholding the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective and is satisfied that there is no alternative outcome that will mitigate the concerns raised by Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Dorset Police.

The Sub-Committee gave detailed consideration to all of the information which had been submitted before the hearing and contained in the report for Agenda Item 6, presented by Sarah Rogers, Senior Licensing Officer, including the Witness Statement dated 12 June 2026 provided by Vanessa Rosales, Licensing Officer, Dorset Police, in support of the Application for Review of the Premises Licence on the grounds of Prevention of Crime and Disorder, as well as the verbal submissions made at the hearing by Fi Smythe, Immigration Officer and James Andrews, Set Square Studio, representing Mr Rasti Khalil, the Licence Holder.

In determining the review, the Sub-Committee considered the options available to them as set out in the recommendations of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

In relation to the items of business appearing below, the Sub-Committee is asked to consider the following resolution: -

‘That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.’

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.

Following information received via Dorset Police and the provision of a new Enhanced DBS the suitability of the licensed Hackney Carriage driver. The Driver is referred to determine if he remains ‘fit and proper’ to continue to be a licence holder.

This item was restricted by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt information – Categories 1 (information relating to any individual) and 2 (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Attendance:

From BCP Council:

Nananka Randle – Licensing and Trading Standards Manager

Johanne McNamara - Legal Advisor

Michelle Cutler - Clerk to the Sub-Committee

Christiane Tan – Observing, Democratic Services

The Driver attended via phone, having already indicated that he would not be attending the hearing due to work commitments.

The Chair made introductions and explained the procedure to be followed in considering this item, which was agreed by all parties present.

The Licensing Officer and Trading Standards Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. 

The Licensing Team had received information in relation to a licensed driver that raised concerns on their suitability to remain a licensed driver. The Sub- Committee was asked to consider whether the driver remained a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.

The Sub-Committee asked various questions of all parties present and were grateful for the responses received. All parties had the opportunity to ask questions. All parties were invited to sum up before the Sub-Committee retired to make its decision. Before concluding the hearing, the Legal Advisor advised all parties of the right of appeal. 

RESOLVED that the driver is no longer deemed to be a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence and that the licence be revoked with immediate effect under Section 61(2B) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 in the interests of public safety).

Reasons for Decision:  

The Sub-Committee carefully considered all the written information which had been submitted before the hearing and contained in the Licensing Officer’s report for Agenda Item 8. 

The Sub-Committee also considered the verbal submissions made at the hearing by the Licensing and Trading Standards Manager and the driver, and the responses given to questions. 

In considering whether the driver remained a ‘fit and proper person’, the Sub- Committee had regard to the BCP Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Policy 2026 – 2031, the provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Institute of Licensing (IOL) Guidance on determining the suitability of drivers and licensees in the hackney and private hire trades (2018), and the Department for Transport Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards (updated November 2022).

The Sub Committee considered the following points:

Dorset Police contacted the Taxi Licensing Authority asking for information on the driver regarding an ongoing Police investigation.

A copy of the drivers new enhanced DBS check was circulated to all parties present at the hearing. The DBS check was clear; however, the Police had disclosed relevant information relating to concerns over the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.