The Ealing Council Licensing Committee convened on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, to discuss licensing activities and temporary event notices. The committee approved the minutes from the previous meeting on 29 April 2025 and reviewed a report providing an update on licensing hearings and temporary event notices (TENs). The committee noted the Licensing Hearing Update Report and Temporary Event Notices report.

Licensing Hearing Update and Temporary Event Notices

Joe Blanchard, Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, presented a report summarising licensing decisions made between April and June 2025 and provided an overview of temporary event notices. The report was for informational purposes, updating the committee on licensing sub-committee decisions and TENs.

During the period covered by the report, the Licensing Committee made five decisions. One new premises licence was granted with additional conditions, while two new premises licences were refused. Of the two reviews of existing licences, additional conditions were imposed in one case, and the other licence was revoked.

Joe Blanchard clarified the standard consultation procedure for licence applications, which includes displaying site notices, publishing the application in a local newspaper, and advertising it on the council's website for a minimum of 28 days. He noted that mediation with responsible authorities, such as the police, often leads to agreed conditions and the withdrawal of objections, allowing licences to be granted without a committee hearing.

Joe Blanchard confirmed that no appeals had been submitted as of the date of the report, noting that appeals typically follow a revocation and can take up to a year to be heard due to court delays. He also addressed the relationship between the licensing policy and the council's 'After 6pm' strategy, stating that the new draft licensing policy, due to be considered by the full council, aims to strike a balance between permissiveness and restrictiveness.

He explained that the council's cumulative impact assessment¹ informs the designation of special policy areas, where there is a presumption against granting further alcohol licences. However, applicants can overturn this presumption by demonstrating that their proposals would not contribute to cumulative impact.

Joe Blanchard highlighted the importance of licence conditions and noted that breaches can lead to enforcement action or a licence review. He also mentioned the challenges posed by older premises licences granted under the Licensing Act 2003, which often lack enforceable conditions.

The Chair, Councillor Munir Ahmed, noted that the new licensing policy includes additional guidance to help applicants prepare more thoroughly, increasing their chances of success.

Joe Blanchard also provided an overview of temporary event notices (TENs), explaining that they allow individuals to carry out licensable activities without a full premises licence, subject to certain conditions. These include that the event involves fewer than 500 people, lasts no longer than seven days, and the applicant is over 18. He noted that TENs are not subject to public consultation, with only the police and environmental health officers being consulted.

He shared data showing that TEN applications had dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic but had gradually returned to pre-pandemic levels. Approximately 90% of TENs are authorised, with the remainder being refused, voluntarily withdrawn, or invalid due to submission errors.

Joe Blanchard identified key challenges related to TENs, including short notice periods, the absence of public consultation, and the limited scope of who can object. He noted that if no objections are received, the event is automatically authorised without a formal decision, which can lead to frustration if problems later arise.

He concluded by noting that overall compliance with TEN regulations was good, and complaints were relatively rare.

Decisions Made

The committee reviewed decisions made on five applications between 1 April 2025 and 16 June 2025:

• Little Ealing Convenience, 2a The Quadrant, Little Ealing Lane, Ealing W5 4EE: A review of the premises licence resulted in the licence being revoked. Little Ealing Lane
• Bocian Supermarket 130 - 132 Uxbridge Road Hanwell W7 3SL: A new premises licence application was refused. Uxbridge Road
• A Star Retail 10 King Street Southall, UB2 4DA: A new premises licence application was refused. King Street
• Casa, 165 Dukes Road, Acton, W3 0SL: A new premises licence application was granted with additional conditions imposed. Dukes Road
• Costcutter T/a Best Foods, 512-516 Lady Margaret Road Southall, UB1 2NP: A review of the premises licence resulted in conditions being imposed. Lady Margaret Road