Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires the Local Authority as Licensing Authority to prepare and publish a statement of licensing policy at least every five years. The existing policy was agreed by the Council on the 20^th November 2020 with an effective date of the 7^th January 2021.

The Licensing Unit Manager presented the policy to the Committee which could be accepted, amended or rejected but to comply with the statute a revised policy had to be agreed by full Council by the 7^th January 2026.

It was recommended that the attached draft statement of licensing policy be accepted without amendment. Widespread consultation had not revealed any major problems with the existing policy.

For background information the Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainments and the provision of late night (hot) refreshment.

The Act required the Local Authority as Licensing Authority, to carry out a review of it’s Statement of Licensing Policy every 5 years and to publish the result.

A copy of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy was attached at Appendix 1 in the agenda packs.

Consultations had been undertaken for a 5-week period between the 17^th September 2025 until the 22^nd October 2025. A full list of consultees was attached at Appendix 2 in the agenda packs.

The consultation had also been published on the Council’s website and feedback was attached at Appendix 3 in the agenda packs.

In conclusion, the current policy had been in existence for five years and to date has not been challenged formally or informally.

Feedback from consultees had been minimal and the policy can be reviewed at any time during the five-year cycle to take account of emerging issues.

The policy would need to be agreed by full Council at the meeting on the 12^th

November 2025 if a special Council Meeting is to be avoided.

The Licensing Unit Manager added there had been an addition at section 28.8 in relation to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, which received Royal Assent on the 3^rd April 2025.

The Government intends for there to be an implementation period of at least 24 months before the Act comes into force. This will allow the SIA’s new function to be established, whilst ensuring those responsible for premises and events had sufficient time to understand the new obligations to enable plans to be prepared appropriately.  

A Member asked about issues of drink spiking and the Licensing Unit Manager did not have the data to hand but if there were problems then GMP would investigate which could call a review process.

A Member enquired about the requirement that applicants for any premises licence were responsible for placing an advertisement at the premises and in a local newspaper. Did this apply to a paper copy or would an online newspaper suffice. The Licensing Unit Manager stated this was part of the act being reviewed as whilst it currently needed including in a newspaper circulated for the local area the costs associated with high and newspaper purchases are lower now due to online publications being available.

A Member commented on the late night Levy and would this impact local businesses if implemented. The Licensing Unit Manager explained 60% of costs are awarded to the police and 40% to the local authority but the number of licensed premises impacted would be low as it covered a fixed time between midnight to 6.00am.

A Member commented asked about section 42 of the report in relation to Champagne bottles must be secured to a table or ice bucket and must only be dispensed by a member of staff who is trained in the responsible service of alcohol. The Licensing Unit Manager repeated a process of review would be conducted if there were problems at a particular venue and they would speak to the Premises Licence Holder or GMP could call a review.

Delegated decision:

It was agreed that the attached draft statement of licensing policy be accepted without amendment.