Agenda and draft minutes

The members of the Sub-Committee agreed to appoint Councillor Melissa Fisher as Chair of the meeting.

The Chair welcomed all to the meeting.

There were no apologies, substitutions, declarations of interest or dispensations declared at the meeting.  In the interests of transparency, one member indicated that they had purchased some items from the premises, which was the subject of the hearing, on a limited number of occasions in the past, but that this was several years ago.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 27^th February and 6^th March 2025 are submitted for approval as correct records.

Recommended – That the Minutes be received and approved as correct records.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 27^th February and 6^th March 2026 were submitted for approval as correct records.

Resolved – That the Minutes be received and approved as correct records.

NOTE: The purpose of the meeting is to hold a hearing under the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings Regulations) 2005, details of which will be published as soon as they are available.

Procedure Note attached.

Members noted that the purpose of the meeting was to hold a hearing under the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings Regulations) 2005.  A procedure note on the conduct of the licensing hearing was provided.

Resolved – To approve the procedure for the conduct of the licensing hearing, as set out in the formal Procedure Note.

To advise elected members of the details of a review of a premise licence in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The report is attached.

Recommended - That the Sub-Committee make a determination under the relevant provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Chair summarised the purpose of the meeting which was to consider a review of a premises licence in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

Those persons in attendance at the meeting were invited to introduce themselves and to clarify their role.  The following interested parties were present:

Applicant

Sgt Steve Dundon – Lancashire Constabulary, acting on behalf of PC 3539 Phillip Needham

Responsible Authorities

Jason N Middleton, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards

Lauren Manning, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards

Liz Wallace-Mills, Licensing Manager, Hyndburn Borough Council

Premises Licence Holder

Mr Mohammed Nawaz

Other persons in attendance included:

Mrs Karen G Hall, Senior Licensing Officer, Legal and Democratic Services

Mr Daniel Hoyle, Solicitor, Legal Services, Hyndburn Borough Council

Mr Julian Joinson, Member Services Manager

Mr Duncan Craig, attending to represent the Premises Licence Holder

Mr Asif Nawaz, attending with the Premises Licence Holder

The Chair advised that Procedure Note would be followed and the various parties would be invited to present their information, but that cross-examination would not normally be allowed unless the circumstances required it.

The Chair invited the Licensing Officer to clarify the following:

·         Whether any parties not present had made representations and, if so, whether they intended to be represented

·         Whether any representations had been withdrawn

·         Whether any party asserted that the hearing was not necessary

·         Whether any request had been made for other persons attend

·         Whether any person had given notice that they were unable to attend

·         Whether any party wished to provide additional documents.

A negative response was received in the case of each of the above questions, save in so far as it was noted that additional documents (a character reference about Mr Asif Nawaz and copies of personal alcohol licences for Mr Asif Nawaz and Ms Saika Parveen Nawaz) had been submitted recently in support of the representations on behalf of the Premises Licence Holder and had been circulated yesterday to the Sub-Committee.

The Chair then asked if any party wished to exclude the public from all or part of the hearing.  Mr Duncan Craig informed the Sub-Committee that in view of an on-going Police investigation regarding Mr Asif Nawaz, the public and press should be excluded from that part of the hearing when oral evidence was being provided by the applicant and responsible authorities, so as not to prejudice that investigation or any subsequent actions in connection with that individual.  It was noted that there were staff present from various responsible authorities for training and development purposes, who were not directly involved in the hearing.  A member of the press was also in attendance.

Sgt Steve Dundon indicated that the allegations against Mr Asif Nawaz were potentially serious and that he had no objection to the hearing taking place in private.  Members sought clarification about whether the public should be excluded just for the presentation of evidence by the Police.  Jason Middleton indicated that the Trading Standards information was an integral part of the Police evidence and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.