Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Licensing and General Purposes Committee meeting on 1 July 2025. The committee was expected to discuss the Electoral Services Report 2024, the Annual Report on Licensing Applications, the Commercial Environmental Health - Health and Safety Annual Report 2024/2025, and the Committee Forward Work Plan 2025-2026. The meeting was scheduled to be held at Hendon Town Hall.

Electoral Services Report 2024

The committee was scheduled to consider the Electoral Services Report 2024. The report provides details on the current Register of Electors and gives an overview of the activities and performance of Barnet Electoral Services throughout 2024. The report also provides information about the regular registration work that is undertaken throughout the year, including the preparation and delivery of the Annual Canvass between July and December. The report was prepared by Cath Shaw, Barnet's Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer. The report helps to provide the Licensing and General Purposes Committee with relevant information to:

ensure that the Council has met its obligations in this regard ask any necessary questions to satisfy themselves that provision of resources for future management of the electoral register (and associated statutory duties of the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer) are sufficient and appropriate.

The report notes that there were 268,123 electors on Barnet's Register of Electors on 2 December 2024, which is an increase of 3,229 on 1 December 2023. The report also notes that there were 632 eligible 16- and 17-year-olds registered across Barnet, 30,318 EU nationals registered to vote in Barnet, 54,580 electors in Barnet with a postal vote, 703 electors in Barnet with a proxy vote, 196,839 electors opted out of appearing on the Open Register, 2,144 Overseas Electors registered in Barnet and 243 Voter Authority Certificates despatched to electors in 2024. The report also details the key activities of the Electoral Services Team in 2024, including registration reviews, the EA22 Proxy Voter Refresh, sending a Household Notification Letter to all residential properties, the Mayor of London and GLA Elections Project, the UK Parliamentary General Election Project and the Annual Canvass. The report also provides an analysis of Barnet's Register of Electors and sets out the priorities for Electoral Services in 2025, including the Postal Vote Renewal Process, the Interim Polling District and Polling Place Review, the Annual Household Canvass and planning for the Local Elections in May 2026.

Annual Report on Licensing Applications 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Annual Report on Licensing Applications. The report provides a summary of the work and performance of the Licensing Team for the period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The report includes information on team performance and work activity, service improvements and projects undertaken by the team, an update on the status of the current licensing policies in effect, and details of the licensing sub-committee hearings. The report notes that the Council received 1634 applications in total during this period, compared to 1622 in the same period in 2023-2024. The report also notes that one appeal was lodged against the decision of the Licensing Sub-committee and heard during this period. The report provides a detailed analysis of all licensing work undertaken between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, including licensing progress and outcomes set against the objectives as set out in the work plan. The Licensing Team covers a wide range of statutory licensing, registration and enforcement functions in the London Borough of Barnet, including premises which sell and supply alcohol or provide regulated entertainment or late-night refreshment, gambling premises, gaming machines and lotteries, street trading & market licensing, sex establishments and sexual entertainment venues, film classification, fireworks, scrap metal dealers/sites, animal welfare premises (including Zoo and Dangerous Wild Animals) licensing and special treatments. The report also provides information on the number of applications received for each type of licence, the number of licensing sub-committee hearings held, the number of appeals lodged, the number of service requests and complaints received, and the enforcement action taken. The report also provides an update on policy updates, including the review of the Statement of Licensing Policy (SLP). The report also discusses the Gambling Reform Coalition, which the Leader of Barnet Council Councillor Barry Rawlings has signed up to be part of. The report notes that Barnet currently has 67 Gambling Premises Licences and that the largest concentration of gambling premises appear to be located in Childs Hill, Edgware, West Finchley and Woodhouse wards. The report also notes that the Licensing Team have experienced frustration with the disconnect between the Gambling Act 2005 and relevant Planning legislation. The report concludes by setting out the next steps for the Licensing Team, including continuing to monitor any changes in the legislation and guidance on the proposed reforms, continuing to engage with partners in the planning department through the monthly Licensing Action Group Meetings, and working with colleagues in the Insight and Intelligence team to set up a Local Areal Profile Tool.

Commercial Environmental Health - Health and Safety Annual Report 2024/2025

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Commercial Environmental Health - Health and Safety Annual Report 2024/2025. The report provides a summary of the work and performance of the Commercial Environmental Health, Health & Safety Team for the period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The key areas of activity are to ensure that the workplaces for which the Local Authority has responsibility are safe and provide for the welfare of workers. The Health & Safety Team are responsible for regulating health, safety and welfare for those at work and for those affected by risks from work activities, including the public, within the London Borough of Barnet. Regulated workplaces include offices; shops; warehouses; consumer services; cafes/restaurants and some leisure services. The team does not regulate the Councils own buildings or investigate incidents involving council employees at work. The report notes that the Commercial Environmental Health, Health & Safety Team is made up of qualified Environmental Health Officers/Health and Safety Practitioners and that the H&S Team deliver the 'Enforcing Authority' functions for the London Borough of Barnet. The report also notes that the team was subject to a reorganisation in early 2025 and currently carries vacancies for all 3 posts and that the restructure increased resource overall by reinforcing of the Health and Safety function with 2 FTE Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) posts and a Team Leader. The report provides information on the reporting of accidents, proactive inspections, enforcement action and case studies. The report notes that during the reporting period, 178 accident reports were made to the H&S Team and that 10 accidents were formally investigated. The report also notes that due to reorganisation and recruitment challenges, posts within this Team have been unoccupied and as a result no proactive health and safety inspections have been undertaken. The report provides a summary of interventions during the reporting period, including 1 improvement notice and 2 immediate prohibition notices. The report also includes a case study on a shooting club with high lead exposure.

Committee Forward Work Plan 2025-2026

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Committee Forward Work Plan 2025-2026. The plan sets out the proposed items for discussion at future meetings of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee. The plan includes items such as the Electoral Services Update, the Annual Licensing Report, the Environmental Health - Commercial Health and Safety Annual Report, the Interim Polling District and Polling Places Review, the Explosives/Fireworks Licence Policy, the Animal Welfare Licensing Policy, the Trading Standards Mid-year Report, the Annual Barnet Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing report, the Gambling Statement of Principles, the Scrap Metal Licensing Policy, the Elections Project Review and the Annual Interim Review - Polling District and Polling Places.