Agenda and draft minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes of the Cabinet Member (Policing and Equalities) meeting held on the 1^st September 2025

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 1^st September 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance.

The Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance, which set out the outcome of the eight-week consultation undertaken on the review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy for the Licensing Act 2003 and sought approval of a revised policy for the period 2026-2031.

The Cabinet Member noted that the report had been considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee at its meeting held on 18^th November 2025, who had supported the proposed revised policy.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires each Licensing Authority to prepare and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy.  The Policy sets out how the Licensing Authority intends to approach its licensing responsibilities and how it intends to promote the four licensing objectives of:

•  Preventing of Crime & Disorder

•  Promotion of Public Safety

•  Prevention of Public Nuisance

•  Protection of Children from Harm

The Policy must be renewed every five years and be subject to a full consultation process.

The current Statement of Licensing Policy came into effect on 16^th March 2021, to cover the period up to 16^th March 2026.

At the meetings of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities on 28^th July 2025 and the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 5^th August 2025, a report was considered on the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy and the Director of Law and Governance was authorised to consult on its contents.

Public consultation took place between 12^th August 2025 and 7^th October 2025, which included mail shots to representatives of the licensed trade, clubs and key partners; formally writing to the Chief Officers of the responsible authorities; mail shots to businesses and organisations; and wider public consultation through the City Council website. 

Officers indicated that there were no major changes to the policy except for some minor wording amendments following the consultation, which were highlighted in the draft revised policy at Appendix 1.

The revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy was attached as an appendix to the report.  It was recommended that the revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy be recommended for adoption, to take effect from 16^th March 2026.

The Cabinet Member noted the results of the consultation and the comments of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities recommends that the Council adopt the revised Statement of Licensing Policy attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

To consider any other items of business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of business.