The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee convened to address a review application concerning the premises licence of Mayfield Store, and ultimately decided to revoke the licence due to serious breaches of licensing objectives. The review was initiated by the Licensing Authority, with additional concerns raised by West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, and Trading Standards. The Sub-Committee determined that the licence holder had demonstrated a disregard for the licensing objectives, and that further conditions would not be complied with.

Mayfield Store, 287 Willenhall Road

The Sub-Committee decided to revoke the premises licence for Mayfield Store, 287 Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 2HY. The application for review was submitted by the Licensing Authority on 24 July 2025, citing concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm.

Sarah Deeley, Licensing Authority (Applicant), stated that the absence of Lilian Kabanyoro, the Premises Licence Holder, from the hearing indicated a clear disregard for the Licensing Objectives and recommended the revocation of the premises licence.

Bal Lehal of West Midlands Police supported the revocation, stating that the Premises Licence Holder had shown a complete disregard for the Licensing Objectives and asked the Sub-Committee to consider the seriousness of the breaches.

Lyndsey Scragg of West Midlands Fire Service raised potential immigration concerns and fire safety issues related to the premises.

Dianne Slack of Trading Standards asserted that the Premises Licence Holder had shown a blatant disregard for the Licensing Objectives and asked the Sub-Committee to consider the seriousness of the breaches.

According to Donna Cope, Democratic Services Officer, Ms Kabanyoro had claimed to have no knowledge of the matter, stating she had nothing to do with the store and that the current staff should not be using her name on the licence.

The Sub-Committee concluded that the existing licence conditions were robust but not being complied with. They expressed a lack of confidence that further conditions would be effective and determined that no other action would ensure the premises operated in accordance with licensing objectives.

The decision can be appealed to Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court within 21 days of receiving the written notice of the decision.

Exclusion of press and public

The committee resolved to exclude the press and public from the meeting, citing Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972¹ and regulation 14 of The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005². This decision was based on the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act relating to any individual.

That, in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and regulation 14 of The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 that, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act relating to any individual, and the public interest in excluding the press and public outweighs the public interest in the hearing taking place in public.

Councillor Zee Russell, Chair of the Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee, noted that the premises was situated in close proximity to where she lived, but no formal declarations of interest were made by any member of the sub-committee.