The Licensing Committee of Doncaster Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, to discuss a review of the Cumulative Impact Assessment. The committee will consider evidence and responses received during a public consultation regarding areas where the concentration of licensed premises may be having a cumulative impact.

Licensing Act 2003: Cumulative Impact Assessment Review

The primary item for discussion at the upcoming Licensing Committee meeting is the review of the Licensing Act 2003: Cumulative Impact Assessment. This assessment, first published in 2020, identifies areas within Doncaster where the density of licensed premises is considered to be contributing to issues such as crime, disorder, and public nuisance. The Licensing Act 2003 requires such assessments to be reviewed at least every three years.

The report pack outlines that a formal consultation process took place between 26 November 2025 and 28 February 2026, inviting responses from statutory consultees, licence holders, elected members, and the public. A small number of responses were received, including support for retaining existing cumulative impact areas from Bawtry Town Council, Public Health, and South Yorkshire Police. Conversely, one member of the public expressed a view that licensing controls should be made stricter.

The committee will be asked to consider the evidence presented, including data on crime and anti-social behaviour incidents from South Yorkshire Police, and health data from Public Health regarding alcohol-related hospital admissions and mortality. Public Health notes that Doncaster has significantly worse rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions compared to England and is among the worst in the Yorkshire and Humber region for alcohol-related deaths.

The report presents four options for the committee to consider:

• Option 1 (Recommended): To keep both of the existing Cumulative Impact Areas without amendment.
• Option 2: To increase one or both existing Cumulative Impact Areas, or create a new one, based on the evidence.
• Option 3: To reduce one or both existing Cumulative Impact Areas, specifying which streets are no longer subject to cumulative impact.
• Option 4: To determine that one or both Cumulative Impact Areas are no longer required.

The recommendation to retain the existing areas is based on the evidence provided by responsible authorities, particularly South Yorkshire Police and Public Health, who have submitted evidence supporting their retention. The report highlights that the existing Cumulative Impact Assessment areas are: Area 1 (Silver Street, Bradford Row, Cleveland Street, Hall Gate, High Street, Market Place, Priory Walk), Area 2 (Part of the Town Ward, including Broxholme Lane, Christ Church Road, Copley Road, Highfield Road, Nether Hall Road), and Area 3 (Bawtry Town Centre, including Church Street, Grasswood Lane/Dower House Square, High Street, Market Place, Swan Street, Wharf Street).

The report also includes detailed data on crime and anti-social behaviour incidents within these areas, as well as extensive data on alcohol-related hospital admissions and mortality. Maps illustrating the geographical distribution of licensed premises and proposed new cumulative impact areas are also provided.

The committee will also review the minutes from the previous Licensing Committee Meeting held on 25 June 2026.

The meeting is scheduled to be filmed for subsequent broadcast via the Council's website.