Content

9.1

The members of the Environmental Services and
Regulation Policy Committee considered a report of the Executive
Director Neighbourhood Services setting out the details of the
revised Statement of Licensing Policy to be published under the
Licensing Act 2003 and details of the consultation process that has
been undertaken. The report sought approval of the final version of
the Statement of Licensing Policy and for it to be referred to Full
Council.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:
That the Environmental Services and Regulation
Policy Committee approves the Statement of Licensing Policy for
submission to Full Council on the 3rd of December 2025.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

It is recommended that the Committee approve the
SoLP and agree for

the Policy to be referred to Full Council for
adoption on the 3rd of December

2025.

 

 

9.3.2

The reason for this recommendation is to ensure
compliance with the Council’s statutory requirements set out
in the 2003 Act and associated guidance to have the policy referred
to and adopted by Full Council and published in time for the
Statement of Licensing Policy to be in effect in January
2026.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

‘Cumulative Impact’ has been a topic of
ongoing discussion prior to this policy review, with formal
requests for assessment being submitted by a city centre
residents’ association in relation to licensed premises
within the city centre. This work is now progressing as a separate
project, led by colleagues in Public Health, who are currently
undertaking a data collection exercise. An Options Paper is
expected to be produced by Spring 2026. As this is a distinct piece
of work, it will not affect the timeline of the current policy
review, which will proceed as planned to meet the statutory
publication deadline.

 

 

9.4.2

Although the Licensing Authority considered
incorporating a cumulative impact assessment into this policy
review, it was concluded that the resources and time required to
complete such an assessment would prevent publication of the
SoLP within the statutory timeframe.
Therefore, no alternative options to the publication of the revised
SoLP were pursued. The Licensing
Authority remains under a legal duty to publish a Statement of
Licensing Policy every five years, as outlined in paragraph 1.1
above.