The Licensing Sub-Committee of City of Edinburgh Council scheduled a meeting to discuss several licensing applications, proposed parades, and a request to screen uncertified films. Councillor Joanna Mowat was scheduled to chair the meeting.

Proposed Parades

A report on Proposed Parades September - November 2025 was prepared by Andrew Mitchell, Head of Regulatory Services, for discussion at the meeting. The report noted that the council had been notified of several parades planned to take place in the city centre between September and November 2025.

The report stated that the council has limited powers regarding the control of parades, which should only be exercised to prevent public disorder, risk to public safety, damage to property or excessive disruption.

The parades listed in the report were:

• A Support Palestine parade on 13 September 2025, which intended to use Princes Street.
• A March for Animal Rights on 20 September 2025, which intended to use Princes Street.
• The Edinburgh Lindy Exchange Parade, an international swing dance event, on 20 September 2025, which intended to use the High Street.
• A Support Palestine parade on 27 September 2025.
• The Shine Night Walk, a charity fundraising event, on 27 September 2025, which intended to use Princes Street.
• The GLOW charity walk on 4 October 2025, which intended to use the High Street.
• A Scotland Demands Better anti-poverty demonstration on 25 October 2025, which intended to use the High Street.
• The Scottish National Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service on 9 November 2025, which intended to use the High Street.

The report recommended that the committee make an order in respect of each of the proposed parades, attaching standard conditions.

House in Multiple Occupation Licences

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licences for five properties at 2 Fyfe Lane from Edinburgh Abode Residential Ltd.

The report noted that the properties did not meet the standards set out in the statutory guidance on HMOs, and that the applicant was seeking an exemption from policy to allow them to operate as HMOs for five people. The applicant requested exemptions from policy with respect to the width of bedroom 1, the availability of kitchen sockets and the area of the kitchen worksurfaces in each property.

The report stated that the statutory guidance provides reference points to help local authorities determine whether living accommodation is suitable for occupation as an HMO, and that these standards should be applied flexibly. The report recommended that the committee consider the applications and the request for exemption.

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival 2025

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider a request to screen uncertificated films during the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival ('ESFF') 2025.

Condition 2 of the council's standard conditions, which applies to all cinema licences, states that only films with certificates from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) may be exhibited. However, condition 3 of the cinema licence conditions allows the exhibition of any film, if the council's permission is obtained first.

The report noted that the council had received a licence variation application from ESFF CIC regarding films due to be screened during the 2025 festival. Typically these films are yet to be released and have still to be classified by the BBFC. Therefore, as required by the council's Standard Conditions of Licence, the ESFF was seeking permission on behalf of the various cinemas for the films within the programme to be shown.

The report recommended that the committee grant permission to allow specific uncertificated films, from the list of titles circulated, to be shown as part of the 2025 festival between 3 and 20 October 2025 at the venues listed in Appendix 1 of the report.

Other licensing applications

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a number of other licensing applications, including:

• A new boat hire licence for Mr Sufyan Tunesi at Portobello Beach.
• A new street trader licence for Edinburgh Storytellers Ltd, managed by Mr Michael Nardone, at 2 Chalmers Close, Old Town.
• A variation to a street trader licence for Mr Sean Wilson Parr at the corner of Morton Street and Esplanade Terrace.
• A new late hours catering licence for Mr Seyhmus Aslanalp at 172 Rose Street.
• A new late hours catering licence for Mr Falah Hassan Taher at 19 Home Street.
• A renewal of a late hours catering licence for Mr Segvan Sitki at 48 George IV Bridge.
• Variations to public entertainment licences for Pure Gym Ltd, managed by Mr Mark Trimmer, at:
  • Sb-3f1, 1-7 Conference Square.
  • Craigleith Retail Park, South Groathill Avenue.
  • Unit 7 Fort Kinnaird, Newcraighall Road.
  • 15 Lauriston Place.
  • 600 Gorgie Road.
• A temporary public entertainment licence for Edinburgh Oktoberfest by World Wide Festival UK at West Princes Street Gardens.
• Renewals of sexual entertainment venue licences for:
  • Y11 JTR Ltd, managed by Ms Erin Sanaghan, at 2 High Riggs.
  • Kaggo Holdings Ltd, managed by Ms Bernadette Haggerty, at 2 Lauriston Street.
  • Netherview Limited, managed by Mr Mark Kerslake, at 157-159 West Port.
• New short term lets licences for:
  • Mr Gerard Porter and Mrs Weiling Huang at 2f2, 10 West Newington Place.
  • Mrs Aqsa Raza at 37 Saughton Grove.
  • DS Edinburgh Ltd, managed by Ms Dorotea Mrozek, at 2f1, 17 Richmond Terrace.
  • Mr Mohammad Kaashif Afzal at 28 Nile Grove.
• A new HMO licence for Four Square (Scotland), agent Miss Carrie-Ann Scougall, at 30 Milton Road East.
• A HMO renewal for Mr Tahir Ahmed, agent Mr Ross Winton, Zone Letting Ltd, at 2f1, 13 Roseneath Terrace.
• A HMO renewal for Marryat Trading Limited, agent Mr Colin Pretty, CJP Residential, lodging agent Mr Brian Morgan, HMO Scotland Limited, at Flat 6, 19 West Bryson Road.
• A HMO renewal for Mr Elio Mario Carpico & Mrs Silvia Carpico, agent Ms Nicole Cameron, Ben Property Management Ltd, at Flat 1, 537 Lanark Road.