The Licensing and Enforcement Committee met on Tuesday 8th September 2026 and approved the revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy for adoption by the full Council. The committee also received a quarterly update on licensing activities and enforcement work.

Revised Draft Statement of Licensing Policy

The committee agreed to approve the revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy, which will be recommended for adoption by the Council on 26 November 2026. The policy had undergone a six-week public consultation period from 24 June to 5 August 2026, during which no responses were received. This was attributed to the fact that the proposed changes were minor, primarily incorporating an amendment agreed by the Council in January 2026. This amendment encourages licence holders to promote the national Street Safe tool, which allows the public to anonymously report locations where they feel unsafe or have experienced harassment.

During the discussion, Councillor Millard, Chair of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee, raised a point about the inclusion of named individuals' email addresses within the report, suggesting that generic email addresses might be more practical and less prone to becoming outdated. Councillor Laura Brooker, Vice-Chair of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee, agreed, noting that a generic inbox would be more useful, especially during periods of local government reorganisation. The committee agreed to remove the named email addresses and use a generic or postal address instead. The final version of the licensing policy statement was agreed for adoption by the council.

Quarterly Update

The committee received a quarterly update on licensing activities from 1 June to 31 August 2026. A total of 396 licensing applications were received during this period, comprising 7 for the Gambling Act, 4 for ear piercing/tattooing, 120 for the Licensing Act, 253 for Hackney Carriage/Private Hire, and 12 for Street Trading.

The update also detailed enforcement work undertaken by the Licensing and Community Wellbeing Teams. This included sub-committee hearings concerning taxi and private hire licences. On 25 June 2026, a driver's Private Hire Drivers Licence was suspended pending a test on the rulebook following new information on their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. On the same date, a new applicant for a Private Hire Drivers Licence was deemed a fit and proper person and granted a licence. No Licensing Act 2003 hearings took place during this period.

Licensing Officers issued 56 penalty points to taxi and private hire drivers for various infractions, including failing to display vehicle plates correctly, not notifying the council of speeding offences, and parking private hire vehicles on designated taxi ranks. The team noted a continued increase in driver and vehicle applications.

The report also highlighted close working relationships with the Police, Trading Standards, and Environmental Protection to ensure compliance at licensed premises. The Community Wellbeing Team continued to address unlicensed activity and provide licensing advice, working with Cotswold District Council's Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit. There were no complaints regarding licensed gambling premises, and Community Wellbeing would continue with inspections. Enforcement exercises targeting illegal scrap metal activity were also planned.

Licensing and Enforcement Sub-Committee Minutes

The committee received the minutes from the Licensing and Enforcement Sub-Committee meetings held on 25 June 2026 and 27 August 2026.

The minutes from the 27 August 2026 meeting detailed a hearing regarding an appeal against the refusal of a street trading consent at Goodridge Avenue. The applicant proposed operating a food truck for up to 15 hours a day. Objectors raised concerns about the proximity of existing food units, the lack of toilet facilities, water supply, drainage, and potential fire risks. They also cited existing odour and noise issues from a nearby KFC.

The applicant responded by explaining the food truck would be accessed via a private road, would not obstruct public access, and would operate from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday to Thursday, with weekend operations for festivals. They stated the unit would be electrically powered, with water tanks, and that customers would collect food and leave promptly. The applicant also noted that the business would primarily serve Italian food, differentiating it from KFC.

During members' questions, the applicant agreed to amend the proposed operating hours to 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm Friday to Sunday. They confirmed the business was their only food truck and that they would provide waste bins. The applicant also stated that staff would use facilities at the nearby KFC.

The Licensing and Enforcement Sub-Committee resolved to grant the application with the modified hours of 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm Friday to Sunday. The committee was impressed by the applicant's presentation and genuine approach, noting that any future issues should be reported to the licensing team for potential review.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next Licensing and Enforcement Committee meeting was confirmed as Tuesday, 8th December 2026.