A shop owner has been given a week’s grace period to arrange legal representation after police raised concerns over business practices at his Reading town centre store.
Quais Aziz owns the Today’s Express store in Duke Street, which can sell alcohol between 8am and 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays.
But this license could be removed over concerns that conditions relating to the prevention of public nuisance and crime and disorder are not being adhered to.
In comments made to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Aziz said problems attached to running the store are ‘ruining his life’, and he intends to work as a licensed taxi driver if a proposed sale of the business goes ahead.
At a licensing applications sub-committee meeting held on Thursday, February 2, he made an appeal for a decision to be adjourned so he could be represented by a solicitor and a translator.
When asked why he was unable to arrange such representation for the current meeting, Mr Aziz said that he works each day from 8am-11pm at the shop.
Cllr Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) said: “Normally we’re sympathetic to people who want adjournments, but you have had a long time to sort this out, you may not agree but that’s what I think.”
There were also questions over whether his employee Mohammed Naseri would be able to attend a new hearing.
Mr Aziz said: “Next week is too close. My colleague cannot work at the shop, and he’s got an appointment at hospital today.”
Cllr Woodward said: “I’m sympathetic to your employee, but really that’s something for you to sort it out. I think your priority absolutely is to get yourself sorted out as soon as possible.
“We may grant an adjournment but it will be up to this committee how long that will be. It’s not something where you can say ‘oh, I want three weeks’.”
Mr Aziz had asked for a three-week adjournment, and mentioned the business is in the process of being purchased for £25,000. However, this is on hold due to the licensing review.
The committee decided to reschedule the review hearing for 9.30am on Friday, February 10 – a decision made by councillors Woodward, Sue Kitchingham (Labour, Caversham Heights) and Doug Creswell (Green, Katesgrove).
There were lingering concerns Mr Aziz’s chosen solicitor would not be able to make it to the hearing. Cllr Woodward made it clear that the next hearing will go ahead with or without their attendance.
Addressing Mr Aziz, police licensing officer Declan Smyth said: “My advice would be to get legal representation.
“It’s very easy to do, you can do so in 24 hours, so it’s not a big ask.”
Meanwhile, council licensing officer Mark Rogers said he could provide Mr Aziz with suggested legal representation and translators if he wished.
