The Licensing Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday, 18 January 2024, to review the outcomes of late-night inspections and enforcement activities related to licensed premises. The committee noted the work undertaken by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service in regulating these premises.

Licensing Enforcement Update

The committee received an update on licensing enforcement activities conducted by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service between April 2022 and November 2023. This report detailed the outcomes of late-night inspections aimed at ensuring compliance with the Licensing Act 2003, which governs licensed premises such as bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, and takeaways. These inspections investigate potential breaches including operating without a licence, violating licence conditions, failing to pay fees, or undermining the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.

During the period of April 2022 to March 2023, 218 inspections were completed, resulting in 102 warning letters being issued. In the period from April 2023 to November 2023, 40 inspections were carried out, with 65 warning letters issued. The report noted a decrease in the number of inspections in the latter period, which was attributed to capacity issues within the team and a shift towards using Park Guard¹ services for out-of-hours noise monitoring. The number of warning letters exceeding inspections in the 2023-24 period was explained by instances where multiple letters were sent to licence holders, designated premises supervisors, and the premises itself.

Formal enforcement investigations were also detailed, with 11 opened in 2022-23 and one in 2023-24 up to November. The committee also heard that the licensing team objected to 50 out of 182 premises licence and variation applications in 2022-23, and 30 out of 137 such applications in 2023-24.

During the discussion, councillors raised questions regarding the reduction in licensing visits, the use of Park Guard, and coordination with neighbouring Hackney Council on licensing enforcement. Information was also provided on the status of Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) within the borough, with three currently active, one pending a judicial review, and another subject to an appeal against licence revocation. The committee was informed about the process for test purchases and when formal legal action or prosecution would be pursued.

Concerns were raised about the process of informing new businesses about licensing requirements, particularly for late-night refreshment sales after 11 pm. It was noted that while information is available on the council's website and the food team is aware, proactive communication to new businesses is not a standard procedure. The council typically relies on complaints from residents or councillors to identify potential breaches.

The committee observed that comparative data from neighbouring local authorities would be beneficial for assessing the council's licensing enforcement performance. They also suggested that a proactive process to identify and communicate licensing requirements to new businesses would be advantageous, as councillors sometimes receive complaints about a lack of advance warning.

The committee resolved to note the activity undertaken by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service in regulating late-night licensed premises.