Agenda item

Daniel Ferrer, Licensing Team Manager, was in attendance to respond to Members’ questions and requests for clarification in relation to the Statement of Licensing Policy.

In response to Members’ requests for an update on the status of the consultation, it was explained that the consultation had closed on Monday after a six-week period. Initially, seven comments had been received, but this number had increased to ten. A full report was scheduled to be presented to Cabinet on 18 December. Among the responses, three had come from responsible authorities: the anti-social behaviour team, the food health and safety team, and the immigration team. These responses primarily sought clarification on contact details and provided helpful guidance. The remaining seven responses had been submitted through the survey, which had been managed in collaboration with the customer engagement team. It was noted that some comments highlighted unclear information and possible technical issues with accessing details. Resident concerns largely focused on enforcement, echoing themes previously discussed in the Licensing Committee. It was confirmed that the enforcement section of the licensing policy had remained unchanged, as had the provisions on processing and fees. Proactive and risk-weighted inspections continued to be carried out, and complaints or referrals from responsible authorities were addressed promptly.

The Committee commended the quality of the report, acknowledging the effort invested and praising the inclusion of modern clauses such as the “Ask Angela” initiative. Councillors also welcomed the incorporation of the agent of change principle, explaining that developers, rather than long-standing pubs, should bear responsibility for soundproofing when new developments were built nearby. The Licensing Team Manager expressed appreciation for these comments and explained that the licensing taskforce, established by the government, had encouraged modernisation. Members were informed confirmed that both the Ask Angela initiative and the agent of change principle were specifically mentioned in national recommendations, and the Council aimed to remain aligned with best practice and other boroughs undertaking similar reviews.

Councillors enquired how the level of response compared to previous consultations. It was stated that engagement appeared slightly better than before, noting that earlier consultations had sometimes attracted only two comments from responsible authorities. The Licensing Team Manager credited improvements to the involvement of the customer engagement and web teams, which had enhanced accessibility and produced charts for inclusion as annexes in the Cabinet report. He emphasised a desire for greater engagement and reiterated that all comments were valued and would inform changes to the licensing policy where appropriate.

Councillors observed that efforts to promote the consultation had been visible on social media and queried whether similar promotion had occurred elsewhere. It was confirmed that outreach had extended to stakeholders, responsible authorities, and neighbouring boroughs, stressing that the legal process was an essential component of consultation. Additional detail had been provided in areas such as safeguarding children to ensure clarity for the licensing trade, residents, and Committee Members. It was explained that practical solutions had been incorporated based on issues encountered over the past five years, including closer consideration of planning matters, which had previously been excluded from licensing discussions.

The Select Committee asked whether any collaboration had taken place with the Community Safety department or Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT), given their operational role. It was confirmed that such engagement had occurred, noting that priorities identified in community safety strategies—such as tackling violence against women and girls—had influenced the inclusion of measures addressing spiking and the Ask Angela initiative. The Licensing Team Manager emphasised that the licensing policy had not been developed in isolation but worked in conjunction with other strategies, including Public Space Protection Orders.

Members suggested that engagement could be increased by sharing information at upcoming SNT meetings and encouraging attendees to participate. The Officer welcomed this suggestion and acknowledged that, with a fully staffed team of nine officers, there was scope for greater direct engagement.

The Committee concluded by commending the inclusion of new provisions on issues such as drink spiking, third-party contractors, and overrates. The Chair expressed satisfaction with the thoroughness of the report and the positive reception of the consultation, congratulating the officers on their work.

RESOLVED: That the Committee considered the revisions to the Statement of Licensing Policy.