Agenda and minutes

Councillor Pickering was appointed as Chair.

Apologies were received form Councillor Adatia. Councillor Chauhan substituted.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report for an application for a new premises licence for Dosti Pan Centre & Off Licence, 2c Uppingham Road, Leicester.

Councillor Pickering, as Chair led on introductions and outlined the procedure the hearing would follow.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report on an application for a new premises licence for Dosti Pan Centre & Off Licence, 2c Uppingham Road, Leicester.

The applicant Mr Ajay Valgi and his representative Mr Anil Bhawsar, agent from Licensing Hub, were in attendance. Also in attendance was the representative of the objectors Mr Irfan Safdar Waraich. Also present was the Head of Regulatory Services and the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee.

The Head of Regulatory Services presented the report and outlined details of the application.

Seventy-five identical representations were received from members of the public objecting to the application between 7 March and 3 April 2025. The representations related to all four licensing objectives. The members of the public were concerned that granting the licence would provide a further source of alcohol within an area already so heavily populated with licensed premises that crime, disorder and public nuisance were higher than the national average. Residents in the area were already suffering from noise nuisance and antisocial behaviour at all hours of the day and night, and they were scared to go out in the evenings due to the rising levels of anti-social behaviour, loitering and sexual violence crimes. These representees also said that the nearby children's park was constantly full of drunk people and was littered with broken glass and other dangerous paraphernalia. These individuals simply bought packs and packs of cheap alcohol from the large number of local off-licenses, headed to the park opposite, and then consumed en masse dumping their cans and other rubbish around the streets and within the park. Crimes in the area in the past year included drugs, possession of weapons, anti-social behaviour offences, burglary and theft of vehicles and property, criminal damage and sexual violence with high rates of failure to prosecute by the police. The issues described above led to genuine concerns around personal safety. The area was densely populated with many young families. Seeing gangs of men drinking all hours caused distress and fear. Women and children in particular felt anxiety and concern over their personal welfare.

Four petitions were received objecting to the application, signed by a total of 152 people. The representations related to all four licensing objectives.

100 identical representations were received from members of the public supporting the application. The representations stated that there was a good enough reason to open a store like this because the residents needed more choice in the area. Opening this store would not have a negative effect on anything in any way. Workers needed a store open for longer hours, due to their different work times.

One petition was received in support of the application, signed by 30 people.

Mr Waraich was given the opportunity to outline the details of the objectors’ representation and answered questions from Members and officers.

Mr Bhawsar and Mr Valgi were given the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report for an application for a new premises licence for Uncle J's Kitchen, 166 Evington Road, Leicester.

Councillor Pickering, as Chair led on introductions and outlined the procedure the hearing would follow.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report on an application for a new premises licence for Uncle J's Kitchen, 166 Evington Road, Leicester.

Ms Jayne Elbakkali and Ms Sumayyah Lunat were in attendance as the representatives of the applicant. Also in attendance were Alan Beckett, Planning Development and Transportation, PC Jefferson Pritchard and PC Ian Woolley, Leicestershire Police, and Ms Jane Russell, Evington Road Neighbourhood Association. Also present was the Head of Regulatory Services and the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee.

The Head of Regulatory Services presented the report and outlined details of the application.

A representation was received on 17 March 2025 from Planning. The representation related to the prevention of public nuisance. The representee was concerned that the premises had been granted planning permission for its current use under application 20192113. Condition 5 stated "The use shall not be carried on outside the hours of 07:30 to 23:00 daily.”

A second representation was received on 21 March 2025 from a member of the public. The representation related to the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance and public safety. The representee was concerned that the late hours of the application will adversely affect nearby residents by the nuisances of late-night noise, smells and littering. They were also concerned this application would add to the existing parking problems in the area, especially customer’s cars and mopeds, e-bikes and pedal bikes used by delivery drivers who gathered in clusters along Evington Road waiting for orders.

A third representation was received on 21 March 2025 from a member of the public. The representation related to the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. The representee was concerned that the late hours will increase, noise, litter and anti-social behaviour in the area. The representee did not attend the hearing but the representation was circulated to the Sub-Committee for considerations.

A fourth representation was received on 8 April 2025 from the Police. The representation related to the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. The representee was concerned that the premises was located in an area of special interest and the applicant had not made any reference to this on the application and had not imposed any practical conditions/proposals to ensure the premises is managed safely in the night-time economy.

Mr Beckett, Principal Planner was given the opportunity to outline the details of their representation and answered questions from Members, other representees and the applicant’s representatives.

Ms Russell, Evington Road Neighbourhood Association, was given the opportunity to outline the details of their representation and answered questions from Members.

PC Pritchard and PC Woolley were given the opportunity to outline the details of their representation and answered questions from Members and the applicant’s representatives.

Ms Elbakkali and Ms Lunat given the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

With there being no further business, the meeting closed at 1:17pm.