Per Tutti withdrew its application after concerns were raised regarding illegal workers and management practices.
The old license still works, though, as an appeal waits to be heard in court. The restaurant made a new application in December that mirrored the old one. They added employee right-to-work checks by an outside firm.
The council was going to meet about it on February 7, but the restaurant withdrew the application quickly. The Home Office objected to their plan.
Per Tutti’s parent company got a £90,000 fine last year. Inspections found eight illegal workers at three locations. This included Radlett, St Albans, and Berkhamsted.
A Home Office person commented on the new license request, saying Besmir Hoxha’s involvement could cause problems. Hoxha was the manager where illegal workers were found, and the Home Office doesn’t believe he can prevent crime there.
Olga Sipcenoka held the old license and started Per Tutti in St Albans with her husband in 2016.
Per Tutti said they know about the Home Office concerns. They promised to follow all the rules carefully, and an independent company checks employees’ right to work. Employees are verified before they start any work, and they stated they would keep an incident log too.
A council officer said right-to-work checks were suggested before, before the council revoked the license. The council didn’t think the check was enough then and felt Sipcenoka didn’t fully understand her role. The council joined the Home Office in objecting.
The officer noted issues seemed like a widespread, intentional, or negligent management issue. The officer worried Hoxha was part of the same business, a business which previously lost its license.