The Licensing Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 13 May 2025 and approved the arrangements for the establishment and chairing of Licensing Sub-Committees for the 2025-26 municipal year. The committee also confirmed the minutes from previous meetings.

Establishment of Licensing Sub-Committee 2025-26

The committee approved the arrangements for the establishment and chairing of Licensing Sub-Committees for the 2025-26 municipal year. These arrangements are consistent with those that have been agreed unanimously by the Licensing Committee each year since 2012-13. The Licensing Act 2003¹ mandates that the Licensing Committee must establish its Sub-Committees. This meeting was convened at the earliest opportunity in the municipal year to ensure minimal delay in convening a Sub-Committee should it be required, as licensing hearings must adhere to statutory timescales.

The approved arrangements include:

• Membership: Licensing Sub-Committees will be formed by drawing three members from the full pool of the committee's 15 members.
• Chairing: Chairs will be appointed at each Licensing Sub-Committee meeting.
• Attendance: Each member of the committee is requested to share the responsibility for attendance across the full membership, aiming for a minimum of five sub-committee meetings per member during the year.

The report highlighted that the practicalities of convening Licensing Sub-Committees are more demanding than for most other committees due to statutory constraints. Applications can be received at any time, and many require a hearing for members to determine them, particularly those that attract objections within the statutory consultation period. Hearings must be held within prescribed legal timescales, which can be as short as 48 hours from the time an application is made, or within 20 working days from the end of a consultation period. The council must also provide applicants and objectors with notification periods, typically 10 working days, which reduces the time available for organising meetings.

The report also noted that there are no resource implications arising from these recommendations, and the arrangements are in line with existing policy, meaning there are no equalities, health, or environmental implications. The risk to the council's reputation if a Sub-Committee meeting is not convened within statutory timescales was also acknowledged.