The Hackney Council Licensing Committee convened to discuss and approve the minutes from their previous meeting, receive an update on the Late Night Levy, and note a report on regulatory updates concerning licensing proposals.

Late Night Levy Update

The committee reviewed the Late Night Levy - Year 8, Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 Update. The report provided an overview of the Late Night Levy's activities between 1 February 2025 and 31 July 2025. The Late Night Levy is a charge on businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol late at night, and the money raised is used to fund initiatives that help to manage the impact of the night-time economy¹. The committee resolved to note the report and its appendix.

Key points from the update included:

• Income: Total receipts for Quarter 2 amounted to £83,928 and Quarter 3 amounted to £40,793, bringing the year-to-date amount to £299,968.
• Training: 386 nightlife and security staff were trained, an increase from 252 in the previous quarter.
• Engagement: 529 engagement visits and advice sessions were conducted, compared to 252 in the previous quarter. Advice was mainly related to Temporary Event Notices (TENs), licensing, and noise issues.
• Noise: Noise reports increased, with 522 alerts issued compared to 136 in the previous period. Most cases were quickly resolved due to venue cooperation and a low rate of repeat allegations. Commercial noise calls increased by 49% compared to the same period last year, potentially due to mild weather. Music-related complaints also increased.
• Hackney Nights Portal: The Hackney Nights portal saw 29 new venue sign-ups, bringing the total to 590. The Hackney Nights portal is an accreditation scheme that aims to promote responsible business practices in Hackney's night-time economy.
• Accreditation Scheme: The total number of accredited venues remains at 52. Venues for Hackney Nights Accreditation will now have to sign up as a policy to the Hackney Business Charter.
• Policing and Welfare: A temporary outreach station was set up on Tabernacle Street in Shoreditch as a welfare point. Staff engaged with over 600 individuals, offering direct assistance and resources such as water, snacks, safety alarms, and phone marking kits.
• Late Night Levy Board: The Late Night Levy Board met in July and discussed the Summer Streets al fresco dining pilot and planning for the year, including agreeing current and future spend.

Regulatory Updates

The committee received a report providing updates on forthcoming proposals related to various forms of licensing, and resolved to note the report. The proposals are contained within:

• Reforming the licensing system - Call for Evidence
• The Health and Care Act 2022 - The Licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England
• The Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Reforming the Licensing System

On 7 October 2025, the government announced a call for evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate, and enabling licensing system. This initiative builds upon earlier recommendations from a Licensing Taskforce aimed at reducing regulatory burdens by 25% by the end of the current Parliament. The call for evidence sought views on several matters, including:

• National Licensing Policy Framework: The development of a National Licensing Policy Framework, similar to the National Planning Policy Framework².
• Licensing Condition Amnesty: Enabling licence holders to seek the removal of outdated or irrelevant conditions.
• Statutory Notices: Removing the requirement for printed statutory notices advertising certain types of application under the Licensing Act 2003³.
• Outdoor Trading and Pavement Licences: Reforming the provisions related to outdoor trading and pavement licences.
• Temporary Event Notices (TENs): Increasing the statutory limits applying to Temporary Event Notices (TENs).
• Blanket Policies: Introducing measures to prevent blanket policies and core hours policies.
• National Protocol: Establishing a national protocol to standardise evidential requirements, promote mediation, and clarify objection procedures.
• Longer-Term Licences: Enabling longer-term or perpetual licences for recurring festivals and events.
• Agent of Change Principle: Supporting the Agent of Change Principle, which places the responsibility for mitigating impacts from existing noise-generating activities on any new development.

Health and Care Act 2022

In August 2025, the government announced it would move forward with licensing proposals within the Health and Care Act 2022, specifically concerning non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. The proposed scheme, designed to be administered and enforced by local authorities, seeks to introduce:

• Dual Licensing Requirement: A personal licence for practitioners and a premises licence for the location where procedures are performed.
• Licensed Treatments: Non-surgical cosmetic treatments to be licensed, including injections, needle insertions, thread placements, and the application of light, electricity, cold, or heat.
• Standards and Administration: Establishing standards to ensure practitioners are trained, qualified, and insured, and that premises meet national standards for hygiene and infection control.
• Risk-Based System: A three-tier, risk-based system for procedures, with lower-risk procedures (green and amber) falling under local authority licensing and the highest-risk procedures (red) regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Act would make it a criminal offence to carry out or permit cosmetic procedures without the required licences and proposes provisions for local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices for non-compliance.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes proposals for a new retail licensing scheme for the sale of tobacco, vapes, and other nicotine products in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The core proposals aim to strengthen enforcement, protect children, and crack down on illicit sales by regulating who can sell these products. Businesses will be required to hold a licence to sell:

• Tobacco products
• Vapes (e-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content)
• Other nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches)

It is expected that a dual licensing system will be introduced, requiring a personal licence for the seller/operator and a premises licence for the location where the products are sold or stored. Local authorities and Trading Standards will be able to refuse or revoke licences from businesses that repeatedly break the law, such as selling to children. Selling products without the required licence is expected to become a criminal offence, with potential for unlimited fines or on-the-spot penalties. The licensing scheme is part of the Bill's overall strategy to create a Smoke-Free Generation and tackle youth vaping.

Approval of Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 July 2025.