The Licensing Committee of Southwark Council met on Thursday 29 January 2026 to discuss several key policy matters related to the Licensing Act 2003. The meeting's agenda included a review of the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy for 2026-2031, an examination of the Cumulative Impact Areas within Southwark, and a discussion on the future of the Late-Night Levy.

Review of the Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-2031

The committee was scheduled to consider the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy for 2026-2031, as detailed in the Report Licensing Act 2003 Review of Statement of Licensing Policy 2026 to 2031 document. This policy outlines how the council intends to approach its licensing responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003, covering areas such as the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment, and late-night refreshment. The report pack indicates that the policy has undergone a review and public consultation process, with proposed amendments detailed in Appendix A Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy 2026 - 2031 . The committee was asked to consider these amendments and the outcomes of the consultation, as presented in Appendix B Licensing Policy Consultation Results , and the associated Appendix C Equalities Impact Needs Analysis .

Review of Cumulative Impact Areas in Southwark

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the Cumulative Impact Areas (CIAs) within Southwark. The Report Licensing Act 2003 Review of the Cumulative Impact Areas in Southwark outlines the assessment of current CIAs and proposes changes based on recent data. The recommendations included retaining the Borough & Bankside CIA, designating Elephant & Castle as a new CIA, and removing Peckham and Camberwell from CIA status. The report also proposed discontinuing all monitoring areas. The committee was to consider the findings of the Appendix A Cumulative Impact Area Assessment Policy Report , the street details in Appendix B Names of Streets within the current CIA and the Elephant and Castle Monitoring Area , and the Appendix C Equality Impact Needs Analysis .

Review of the Late-Night Levy

The committee was also scheduled to review the Late-Night Levy (LNL) in Southwark, as detailed in the Report Licensing Act 2003 Review of the Late-Night Levy . This review was to determine whether to maintain the current levy, extend it to all late-night premises, or remove it entirely. The report indicated that the current LNL primarily funds a night-time economy police team, with a proposed shift towards a 30/70 split between the council and the police if the levy is retained. The committee was to consider the consultation responses on the proposed extension of the levy to late-night refreshment premises, as documented in Appendix A Consultation Responses , and the related Appendix B Equalities Impact and Needs Analysis .

In addition to these main policy discussions, the committee was also scheduled to receive apologies for absence, confirm voting members, be notified of any urgent business, and allow members to declare any interests. The minutes from the previous Licensing Committee meeting held on 1 September 2025 were also presented for approval. An update on recent appeals and prosecutions was also on the agenda.