The Licensing and Appeals Committee of Wokingham Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday 28 October 2026. The meeting's agenda includes the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair, confirmation of previous minutes, and opportunities for public, town and parish council, and councillor questions. A significant item for discussion involves the proposed fees and charges for licensable activities for the 2026/27 period.

Fees and Charges for Licensable Activity 2026/27

A key focus of the meeting is the proposed fees and charges for licensable activities for the upcoming 2026/27 financial year. The report pack indicates that the committee will consider fees set by the government, which cannot be amended, alongside discretionary fees that are within the council's remit to set. The aim for these discretionary fees is to be cost-neutral, balancing income with the cost of maintaining the licensing service over a five-year period. The report pack suggests an increase of 5% for these discretionary fees to address rising operational costs.

A specific amendment to the report is noted concerning animal welfare licensing. This amendment proposes the introduction of a new fee of £269 for mid-term animal welfare inspections, additional visits, unplanned inspections, or abandoned visits related to animal welfare activities. This fee is described as a direct pass-through cost from the City of London, which provides specialist animal welfare inspection services on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council. The report pack clarifies that Wokingham's licensing officers do not currently conduct these inspections, as a Level 3 BTEC qualification in animal welfare licensing is required.

The discussion is also scheduled to cover taxi licensing fees. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen is noted to have raised concerns about inconsistencies in incremental charges for additional vehicles and the existing 20-vehicle cap. A proposal is expected to be considered for a simpler, flat incremental charge for each additional vehicle, with the removal of the cap.

The report pack also mentions that the council aims for cost neutrality in its licensing fees, not profit. It highlights that previous years showed costs, and a current forecast profit is attributed to understaffing, which has balanced out previous deficits. The concept of a five-year rolling period for cost neutrality is also mentioned, with the financial data for the service dating back to its independence from the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) in 2022/23.

The meeting is also scheduled to address the potential for new technology and automation, such as portal systems and digital intake, to reduce manual work and potentially lower future fee increases. Plans to update the back-office system for regulation are mentioned, aiming to automate manual processes and reduce administrative time.

Public, Town and Parish Council, and Councillor Questions

The meeting will include dedicated time for questions from the public, town and parish councils, and councillors. A 30-minute period is allocated for public questions submitted in advance, with the council welcoming questions about the committee's work or agenda items. Similarly, a 10-minute slot is set aside for town and parish councils to ask submitted questions. Finally, councillors will have an opportunity to ask their own questions.

Other Items

The agenda also includes the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2026/27 municipal year. Additionally, the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 20 January 2026, are scheduled for confirmation. The meeting will also address any apologies for absence and receive declarations of interest. Any other urgent items that the Chair decides to bring forward may also be considered.

Luciane Bowker, Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist, is listed as the contact officer for the meeting.