Those behind a Spalding shop where an illegal worker had previously been employed have been denied a new premises licence in the first council meeting in the county to be held online.
Milenia Kudracova’s application for a premises licence for Delicja in Westlode Stre was turned down by South Holland District Council’s Licensing Committee following a meeting held online last Friday.
Lincolnshire Police said multiple previous law breaches had been discovered there.
The majority of the meeting itself was not held in public due to it containing information in relation to the ‘prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime’.
A spokesman for South Holland District Council, said: “After hearing information from the police and the applicant, the panel determined not to grant the licence.
“The decision is subject to the right of appeal in the Magistrates court.”
Lincolnshire Police Alcohol Licensing Team made representations against a new premises licence application for the store at Delicja, 20 Westlode Street, Spalding.
The licence had previously been revoked after police discovered an illegal worker at the store and multiple breaches of the licence conditions.
Sergeant 1040 Kim Enderby said – “This demonstrates that despite the current pandemic the licensing regime continues and we can successfully object to licence applications. Now more than ever we rely on licence holders being responsible in the how their store operates within the community and will take action against any found to be operating irresponsibly or illegally. Fortunately the vast majority of those premises still allowed to open are doing so safely and successfully”
Over 600 people tuned in to watch the part of the meeting which was publicly broadcast, before entering closed session, and the district council are now exploring which other meetings could be held using the new system in the coming weeks.
Councillor Tracey Carter, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for governance and customer, welcomed the use of the new technology, saying: “We have all been impacted by the difficult times we are currently going through, and some much worse than others. In a hard and changing landscape like the one we are currently in, it is important that we, as elected members, find a way to keep making vital decisions and continue to represent our residents as best we can.
“Our officers have been working hard to find the best software to allow meetings to take place whilst observing social distancing, and I was delighted with how well the new system worked at the meeting last week.
“The decisions this technology allows us to make will help keep the District running and ease our ability to recover quickly and effectively once lockdown is lifted.”
