The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council was scheduled to convene on Wednesday 13 May 2026. The primary item on the agenda was an application to vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for the premises known as Food for Less, located at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware. The meeting also included a review of the committee's hearing procedure.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

The committee was scheduled to follow a set procedure for its hearings, as outlined in the LBBLicensingSubCommitteeHearingsProcedure_.pdf document. This procedure is based on regulations made under the Licensing Act 2003 and is designed to ensure natural justice and a fair hearing. Key elements of the procedure include time limits for parties to present their cases, followed by a discussion led by the authority. The procedure also details the roles of the Governance Officer and the Chair in managing the hearing, including the introduction of parties, explanation of the process, and the handling of any permissions for representation. The report pack also outlines the steps for deliberation and the announcement of decisions, whether made at the end of the hearing or within five working days.

Application to Vary the Designated Premises Supervisor: Food for Less

The main focus of the meeting was an application by Kappuccino (UK) Ltd to vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for the premises Food for Less at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0LR. The current premises licence holder is Mr Ciprian-Filaret Solovastru, and the existing DPS is Mr Stefan Oancea. The application proposed Mr Darius Andrei Solovastru as the new DPS.

The report from the Licensing Manager indicated that the Metropolitan Police Service had submitted an objection to this application. The objection was based on concerns that the appointment of Mr Solovastru as DPS would undermine the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder. The police highlighted that a formal review of the premises licence was already underway due to serious alleged criminal activity, including the storage of non-duty-paid tobacco, sale of illicit medicines, unlabelled alcohol, and a failed test purchase for illegal cigarettes. Police enquiries suggested that the proposed DPS, Mr Darius Andrei Solovastru, may have been involved in the running of the premises during the period of alleged criminality.

The report also referenced the Revised Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, which states that police objections to DPS variations are permissible in exceptional circumstances where the appointment is believed to undermine the crime prevention objective. The council's Statement of Licensing Policy was also to be considered.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was asked to determine the application under Section 39 of the Licensing Act 2003, with the power to either grant or reject the application if it was considered appropriate for the promotion of the crime prevention objective. The report noted that no other licensing objectives were relevant to this specific type of objection.

Supporting documents included the application form, the current premises licence, the police representation with supporting evidence, and relevant guidance. The police representation detailed concerns about Mr Solovastru's potential involvement in the premises' operations during a period of alleged criminal activity. Evidence from Companies House was also provided, indicating connections between Mr Solovastru, Mr Oancea, and various companies operating at the premises, including Maxy Roexport (UK) Ltd and Kappuccino (UK) Ltd. A statement from Karl Schultz, Trading Standards Team Leader, further elaborated on these connections and concerns about the application being an attempt to circumvent the licensing regime.