The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider two applications for new premises licences for Chef's Pizza, one located in Barkingside and the other in Ilford. Both applications sought permission for late-night refreshment and extended opening hours, which had attracted objections from responsible authorities.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The committee was scheduled to follow a defined procedure for its licensing hearings. This procedure involved an officer presenting a factual summary of each application, followed by the applicant presenting their case and then responsible authorities presenting their representations. The committee would then consider evidence in a specific order before making a decision in private.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Chef's Pizza, 12 High Street, Barkingside, IG6 2DF

An application was scheduled to be discussed for a new premises licence for Chef's Pizza at 12 High Street, Barkingside, IG6 2DF. The applicant, Mazhar Iqbal, sought permission for late-night refreshment activities from Monday to Sunday, 23:00 to 03:00, with the premises open to the public from 11:00 to 03:00 daily. The premises is described as a ground-floor fast-food restaurant with a maximum capacity of 12 people.

Three objections were lodged by responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team, and the Community Protection Task Force (CPTF). These objections were based on concerns that granting the licence could negatively impact the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and preventing public nuisance. The report noted that the requested hours were significantly beyond the framework hours for licensed restaurants and cafes in the Fairlop area as outlined in the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Chef's Pizza, 218 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1QE

The committee was also scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Chef's Pizza at 218 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1QE. Similar to the Barkingside application, Mazhar Iqbal applied for late-night refreshment from Monday to Sunday, 23:00 to 03:00, with the premises open to the public from 11:00 to 03:00 daily. The premises is described as a ground-floor fast-food restaurant with a maximum capacity of 12 people.

Objections were raised by the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team, and the Community Protection Task Force (CPTF). These objections cited potential negative impacts on the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, preventing public nuisance, and public safety. A key consideration for this application was its location within the Ilford Town Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ)², which creates a presumption against granting new licences due to the concentration of licensed premises and associated issues. The report highlighted that the requested hours were significantly beyond the framework hours for licensed restaurants and cafes in the Ilford Town area.