Agenda and draft minutes

None.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 May 2025.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 13 May 2025 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To review the Terms of Reference for the Licensing Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year.

The Service Delivery Manager: Registrars, Public Protection, Legal & Democracy presented the Term of Reference for the Licensing Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year.

The Constitution required that Full Council agree at its Annual Meeting, the Terms of Reference for each of its committees to enable the Council to efficiently conduct its business.

At the Annual Meeting on 15 May 2025, Full Council delegated authority to each committee to review its own Terms of Reference.

During the debate, it was asked if there had been any changes to the Terms of Reference from the previous municipal year.

The Service Delivery Manager: Registrars, Public Protection, Legal & Democracy replied that, at Full Council on 15 May 2025, the Licensing Committee had been split into two Committees to have the effect that (1) the Licensing Committee would consider business as this related to the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005, and (2) the Regulatory Committee would consider business as this related to other legislation to include, but not limited to, that relating to taxis, street trading and animal boarding.  There were no other changes to the Terms of Reference.

Upon being put to the vote it was, unanimously:

RESOLVED – that the Terms of Reference for the 2025/26 Municipal Year be approved.

To receive an update on Licensing.

The Licensing & Night-time Economy Manager gave a verbal update on matters, which related to licensing (excluding taxi licensing) and gambling, together with initiatives and activities that had recently taken place.

In relation to alcohol and late-night entertainment, there were currently 570 businesses, which held licenses for the supply of alcohol, entertainment and late-night food after 11pm.

During the 2024/25 financial year, there had been 274 Temporary Event Notices (TEN), which included carnivals and festivals.  There had been a few incidents of noise that had been reported for some premises and where these had occurred and a TEN had been submitted, these applications had been rejected.

There were currently 91 personal licence holders and Designated Premises Supervisors (DPS) who either worked in shops, which sold alcohol or worked behind the bar and were in charge of the sale of alcohol.  These licences were in place in order to ensure that events and premises were safe and continued to follow and apply the conditions of their licence.

The Council ran a Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (LSAVI), which sought to improve safety within the nighttime economy sector.  The Initiative included the protection of women and girls and was one of the first, nationally to introduce the scheme.  Currently, there were 25 completed and four pending applications for the Initiative.  There had previously been delays in applying for the accreditation, but following conversations with LSAVI, the application process had now been streamlined, which allowed a more efficient renewal, and which now took approximately two to three hours.  The benefits of LSAVI were processes and procedures such as best practice, fire risks and health and safety policies, which independent premises may not have had, and this would ensure best practice across the borough.  It would also give residents the assurance that the premises were safe to visit.

The Pub Watch Scheme was another initiative that was in place across the borough in areas such as Wellington and Newport, which offered training and problem solving and enabled the Police to gather information on any local issues.  Discussions were taking place on a scheme for Southwater, which would be led by the premises landlords in conjunction with the Police.

Nighttime Economy and Enforcement Officers were dedicated officers and regularly attended MATES visits to licensed premises and late-night premises to look at how they were working and to follow up on targeted information.  It also gave officers a range of tools to engage with the premises to comply with their licence conditions or there was the potential to prosecute or hold a review of the premises licence.

Other work undertaken by the Team were checks on plying for hire by private hire vehicles in hotspot areas and by showing a physical presence and giving assurance to the public.  It also undertook visits to premises where there were cases of noise nuisance and antisocial behaviour. Checks on scrap metal vehicles and checks on licences were also undertaken.

In relation to gambling compliance, there were currently 20 licensed premises  ...  view the full minutes text for item LIC4