Response details:
Dear Cllr
The voluntary undertaking for the closure of this premises expired on 11 January 2024. The premises was closed throughout the period of voluntary closure, and the sale of unlawful nitrous oxide and associated ASB abated. The premises licence remains revoked; therefore, no alcohol may be sold from the premises. It is now an unlicensed premises. Since the premises could open again this year, Council enforcement officers have undertaken weekly checks to ensure no unlicensed sales of alcohol is taking place or stored in any part of the premises. No alcohol sales or storage have been witnessed to date. The local police team are also aware that the premises can now open (without alcohol), and are also monitoring the premises, and will continue to do so. No complaints or intel of unlawful behaviour have been reported to date. Following our intervention, the premises is now unlicensed, and there are no further licensing provisions available to us that we can currently enforce. ASB and unlawful nitrous oxide sales/consumption must now be dealt with by the Police, since the new legislation came in at the end of last year. The Police can seek Closure Orders for ASB related matters, at any premises unlicensed or licensed. We only have powers when the premises is licensed or is unlicensed BUT unlicensed activity has been established. Regarding the Crouch End premises, I understand Haringey Council followed a similar process as us, and the licence was reviewed. The premises may open in the future without licensable activity, should any closure order not be in place. Closure orders tend to last for 3 months (maximum) and only in extenuating circumstances can the closure order be extended beyond 3 months. Often, a premises will change ownership in these circumstances.
Any reports of unlicensed activity should be reported to licensing@enfield.gov.uk and officers will investigate again.
Yours sincerely
Licensing Team Manager
Original enquiry description:
Quite devastated to see that Maaxi/ Happy has opened up again and I have had an influx of correspondence from residents sharing their disappointment that literal criminals have been allowed to begin operating again. What is the council going to do going forward to ensure that this business is appropriately managed, especially as we know that they are troublesome and have been caught multiple times selling illegal products? Will the council be making more regular visits? What are the terms that they have been able to continue trading under? Are the council going to work with our local police force to ensure that they are not able to do any damage to our local community? Is there anything that we can do to get this business closed down once and for all? It has been brought to my attention by a resident that another branch of this shop has been closed down in Crouch End due to popular demand from residents. Is this something we can replicate in Southgate?
Thank you in advance