To receive apologies for absence.

To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the committee.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for a review of a premises licence in respect of Magazin Timisoara, 22 Commercial Road, Hereford. HR1 2BD called by the Licensing Authority as a Responsible Authority under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee of the council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the members in their agenda and the reports published on 27 January 2026 and the supplements published on 2 and 3 February 2026. A further supplement from the Fire and Rescue Service was published during the meeting with the agreement of all parties present.

The hearing was attended by the Premises Licence Holder (‘PLH’) Mr Hemen Nigeen Hassan and licensing agent Ms Vicki Cartmell. Also in attendance providing evidence were Ms Emma Bowell Senior Licensing Technical Officer, Mr Harry Spriggs of the Licensing Authority, PC G Gibbs, PC R O’Keeffe and Sgt Reynolds of West Mercia Police.

Prior to making its decision, the Licensing Sub-Committee heard from the Senior Licensing Technical Officer who presented the report which outlined the options available to the Sub-Committee.

Mr Spriggs, representing the Licensing Authority, provided details of the application to review and history of visits to the premises. Following an initial visit in September 2025 letters were sent to the premises licence holder to warn they were not in compliance with a number of conditions on the premises licence. In a later visit in September 2025 it was found that the PLH had addressed non-compliance with some of these conditions and they were now being adhered to. However,   problems remained with the display of high ABV alcoholic drinks and signage in the window restricting views into the shop. The licensing authority sought a 2 month suspension of the premises licence and application of two amended conditions relating to the display of high ABV alcoholic drinks and an unobstructed view into the premises. The 2 month suspension would give the PLH the opportunity to incorporate the new conditions into his operations.

In response to questions from the committee

·       It was confirmed that the PLH had been given three opportunities to comply with conditions.

West Mercia Police addressed the hearing and made the following principal points:

·       The location of the store was in a hot spot for anti social behaviour.

·       Previous issues had been raised in relation to the store but had not been taken further due to evidential problems.

·       The application to review was supported.

·       The store had failed to comply with a number of conditions and the two month suspension and additional conditions were supported.

Following questions it was confirmed:

·       There had been no prosecutions in relation to issues raised with the store due to evidential problems.

The agent for the PLH spoke on his behalf, the following principal points were raised:

·       The PLH is a new licence holder and breaches were already there when he took over as PLH.

·       When breaches had been identified the PLH had corrected problems in relation to the incident log, staff training register and refusal register.

·       The store had 2 members of staff and the shop manager had a good grasp of English which would help communication with responsible authorities and the promotion of the licensing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

In the opinion of the Proper Officer, the following items will not be, or is likely not to be, open to the public and press at the time it is considered.

RECOMMENDATION:           that under section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as indicated below and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

1       Information relating to any individual.

7       Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

RECOMMENDATION:        that under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, the public be excluded from the meeting as it is considered that the public interest in doing so outweighs the public interest in the hearing, or that part of the hearing, taking place in public.

RESOLVED: that under Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, the public be excluded from the meeting, for the following two hearings, as it is considered that the public interest in doing so outweighs the public interest in the hearing, or that part of the hearing, taking place in public.

To consider an application for a review of a premises licence in respect of Taste of Raj, 67 St Owen Street, Hereford. HR1 2JQ called by the Licensing Authority as a Responsible Authority under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee of the council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the members in their agenda and the reports and supplement published on 26 January 2026.

Prior to making its decision, the Licensing Technical Officer presented the report which outlined the options available to the Sub-Committee. 

Mr James, representing the licensing authority, provided details of the operations conducted by the multi-agency task and enforcement operation on 11 December 2025.

West Mercia Police spoke on the application.

The Immigration Service spoke on the application.

It was explained that the premises licence holder was not present at the hearing and was content that the hearing continue in his absence. It was noted that the premises licence holder had submitted evidence for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

Having carefully considered those matters brought before them and in reaching their decision, the Members had full regard to both the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006), the Guidance Issued under Section 182 and Herefordshire Council’s statement of licensing policy. 

DECISION

The Sub-Committee’s decision following a review of premises licence is as follows:

The premises licence shall be revoked.

To consider an application for a review of a premises licence in respect of Jalsagor, 60 St Owen Street, Hereford. HR1 2JQ  called by the Licensing Authority as a Responsible Authority under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Sub-Committee discussed the volume of evidence relating to the application to review the premises licence for Jalsagor. In order to provide sufficient time to compile and circulate evidence in respect of the hearing it was felt that an adjournment of the hearing under 18 February 2026 was required.

RESOLVED: that the review of a premises licence in respect of Jalsagor be adjourned until 18 February 2026.