The Licensing Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, to establish sub-committees, review the late-night levy, and discuss prosecutions and appeals. Key decisions included the appointment of licensing sub-committee chairs and noting the annual review of the late-night levy, which funds initiatives to improve the night-time economy.

Establishment of Licensing Sub-Committees

The committee agreed to establish Licensing Sub-Committees to handle licensing applications where representations have been made. Councillor Peter Golds, Chair of the Licensing Committee, proposed that for the initial cycle, experienced members should chair these sub-committees. He nominated Councillor Sabina Akhtar and Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain, who have chaired meetings consistently for several years, alongside himself and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Suluk Ahmed. Councillor Abdul Wahid suggested that new members should also be given opportunities to gain experience. After discussion, the committee agreed to appoint Councillor Peter Golds, Councillor Suluk Ahmed, Councillor Sabina Akhtar, Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain, Councillor Rupert George, Councillor Abdul Mannan, and Councillor Victoria Lupton as licensing sub-committee chairs.

Late Night Levy: Annual Review

The committee reviewed the annual performance of the Late Night Levy for the 2025/26 financial year. The Levy, introduced in January 2018, applies to premises licensed to sell alcohol between midnight and 6 am. The total income generated for the year was £296,084.83. The report detailed how this revenue was spent on initiatives aimed at benefiting the late-night economy, including additional police patrols (£209,144.69), enhanced street cleansing (£50,000), and Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training (£5,850). The total expenditure amounted to £331,181.21, resulting in a drawdown of £35,096 from the reserve, leaving a balance of £37,899.

The report highlighted the positive outcomes of the additional police patrols, which focused on reducing crime and disorder, increasing public safety, and deterring anti-social behaviour. Specific examples of successful interventions included responses to serious assaults, knife crime, and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) initiative, including the deployment of a dedicated police car and awareness campaigns like #DontCrossTheLine, was also detailed, aiming to deter offending and safeguard vulnerable people. The report also noted the continuation of additional street cleansing to mitigate the environmental impact of the late-night economy. WAVE training was delivered to 260 staff across Tower Hamlets and Hackney, equipping them to identify vulnerability and intervene appropriately.

Prosecutions and Appeals Report 2025

Jonathan Melnick, Principal Enforcement Lawyer for Tower Hamlets, presented the report on licensing-related prosecutions and appeals for the calendar year 2025. The report covered cases under the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005, and Special Treatment Licences. Mr. Melnick explained that the council acts as a Licensing Authority responsible for monitoring compliance, taking enforcement action, and responding to appeals.

During 2025, five prosecution cases were concluded. The most significant case involved a company, its director, and a seller who received fines totalling £10,000 for an underage knife sale. This case also led to the discovery that the premises had been selling alcohol without a licence for approximately two years, resulting in an additional £12,800 fine. Other cases primarily involved underage sales of alcohol. There were also a small number of appeals concluded, including a settlement by consent, a withdrawal of a late-night refreshment application, and a settlement by consent for a refusal to renew an SEV licence. Mr. Melnick noted that court backlogs can cause delays in case conclusions. He advised that further details on specific appeals, particularly those involving SEV licences, would require a private meeting.