The Licensing Committee met on 15 September 2025 and discussed a range of licensing issues, including primate licensing, updates from the police, passenger transport, public protection and taxi licensing teams. The committee also approved the minutes of the previous meetings.

Primate Licensing

The committee was informed of legislative changes introduced by The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024. These regulations introduce a new licensing scheme for privately kept primates, making it a legal requirement from 6 April 2026 for any individual in England keeping a primate outside of exempted contexts to hold a valid primate licence issued by their local authority.

The report on Primate Licensing outlined the council's responsibilities in implementing the new scheme, which aims to ensure that private primate keepers meet welfare standards equivalent to those required of zoos. The licensing scheme is introduced under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which provides the statutory framework for promoting the welfare of animals in England.

The application process requires detailed information from applicants, including personal details, the species and number of primates they intend to keep, the address of the premises, and microchip identification details for each primate. The council must arrange for an inspection of the premises to assess compliance with welfare standards. Licences are granted for up to three years.

The licensing team is developing a promotional strategy to raise awareness of the new requirements. This includes updating the council's website with information and guidance, directly contacting known primate keepers, and utilising social media.

The local authority must appoint a suitable person to undertake the inspection, such as a veterinarian or someone with experience in primate management and welfare. The council is empowered to charge fees to cover the costs of processing applications and conducting inspections.

Enforcement provisions include issuing rectification notices, varying or revoking licences, and seizing animals in cases of significant welfare concern. Offences under the regulations may be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, with penalties including fines and imprisonment.

The report stated that:

The new regulations do not reference safeguarding in the traditional sense, although consideration is given to indirect safeguarding implications. Primates, especially larger or more aggressive species, can pose a physical risk if kept in domestic environments without proper containment or supervision.

The committee was asked to note the content of the report, the associated regulations, and statutory guidance.

Taxi Licensing

Tom Ince, Principal Compliance Officer, provided the committee with a Taxi Licensing Update as of July 2025.

Driver numbers have stabilised over the last 24 months, with 844 drivers licensed as of 31 July 2025, a decrease of two from the previous month. Vehicle numbers have also stabilised, with 823 vehicles licensed at the end of July 2025. 97 (11.7%) of licensed vehicles are wheelchair accessible.

The team continues to enforce the council's policies, issuing penalty points for behaviour that fails to meet the council's guidelines. The team revoked the licence of four drivers during July 2025.

The team is working on updated driver and vehicle guidelines and two large projects: a taxi rank review to evaluate accessibility and a review of how to transition the current fleet to hybrid or electric vehicles.

The team are experiencing issues with Uber operating in Chippenham and Salisbury using out-of-county licensed vehicles.

A new schedule of tariffs and fares for Hackney Carriages was implemented on 1 September 2025, the first fare rise since December 2022.

Public Protection Licensing Team

The committee received an update from the Public Protection Licensing Team, as detailed in the Licensing Service Update September 2025.

The team has held seven Event Safety Advisory Group (ESAG) meetings this year and dealt with more than 25 events in Wiltshire over the summer. Emma Pain has joined the team as Community Protection Manager.

The ARCUS database, implemented in June 2024, has improved data recording and digital accessibility for customers. Since 12 May, 80% of temporary event notices have been submitted online.

The team has suspended 150 premises licences due to non-payment of fees, with 124 reinstated following payment.

Licensing officers will be undertaking training in November, covering preparing for prosecutions, interviews under caution, and tactical advocacy skills for court. Five licensing officers have attended training for the Professional Licensing Practitioners Qualification.

The Department for Business & Trade has set up an industry-led task force to consider potential changes to the Licensing Act 2003. The changes will seek to modernise the act, support the night-time economy, offer balanced regulation, and utilise cross-sector collaboration. The government has accepted most of the recommendations, subject to further consultations.

The team will be visiting all 34 premises in Wiltshire licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 in the autumn, as it has been more than three years since the last planned visits.

A Western Area Licensing Sub Committee hearing was held on 10 July 2025 for a review of the premises licence held at 7 Days at 7 Wicker Hill, Trowbridge. The licence was revoked, and an appeal has been lodged.

Police Licensing Officers

Alastair Day, Police Licensing Officer, provided an update on the work of the Police Licensing Officers in the Police Licensing Officer Report.

The team works with partner agencies to reduce heavy drinking and prevent unlawful consumption in order to cut crime, disorder and nuisance and protect children from the harm linked to alcohol.

Informal engagement and enforcement during August with one licensed premises in the Amesbury area has resulted in the voluntary removal of a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) following intelligence and CCTV evidence of allowing class A drugs onto the premises.

Operation ARMANIA is a high-visibility operation led by Neighbourhood Police and Community Support Officers, with support from the Wiltshire Police licensing team, to prevent and detect incidents of disorder, assaults, and criminal damage, gather intelligence, and provide a visible presence to boost public safety.

The report stated that:

ARMANIA places VAWG (violence against women and girls) and WAVE (welfare and vulnerability engagement) high on it's list of priorities and it is being rigorously implemented.

The County (South) team will be holding a free WAVE training event on the evening of Tuesday 25 November 2025 at Salisbury City FC, The Raymond McEnhill Stadium, Salisbury. The Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) course is designed to equip individuals in customer-facing roles with awareness of vulnerability and their responsibilities towards customers.

Passenger Transport Team

Jason Salter, Head of Service, Passenger Transport Unit, provided an update on behalf of the Passenger Transport Team, as detailed in the Passenger Transport Team Update.

The start of the new school term has gone well, with all students who applied as per policy getting to school. Transport continues to be provided through a blend of contracted taxis and minibuses, the council's own fleet, and parents being paid a mileage rate.

An additional 12 vehicles have been added to the Wiltshire Council fleet to cater for increased demand at Silverwood Rowde, with other growth being managed through parents being paid a mileage rate and contracted taxis. The taxi market continues to grow steadily.

The number of SEND students on transport will increase between 9% and 11% by the end of the financial year.

The challenges going forward this year will be to source transport to the extended Exeter House School site, which will be located at Wellington Academy in Tidworth, opening in September 2026.

Licensing Sub-Committee Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the Western Area Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 10 July 2025, which concerned a review of the premises licence for 7 Days Trowbridge Ltd, 7 Wicker Hill, Trowbridge.

The premises licence review was instigated due to a Closure Order made by Salisbury Magistrates Court under section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Policing and Crime Act 2014, following allegations and sales of illicit tobacco and vape products.

Emma Caroll, Trading Standards Officer, told the sub-committee that since opening around 1 June 2022, Trading Standards had received many reports of the shop selling illicit tobacco products and illegal vapes, constituting a breach of relevant tobacco control legislation.

Claire Francis, Licensing Authority Officer, raised concerns associated with the Premises Licence Holders ability to comply with requirements under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Sub-Committee agreed to revoke the premises licence in respect of 7 Days Trowbridge Ltd, 7 Wicker Hill, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JS.

The reasons given for the decision were:

The Sub-Committee agreed that as there was evidence that the Premises Licence Holder had disregarded a previous suspension of his Premises Licence, and that he had engaged in the reported behaviours linked to the sale of illicit tobacco products, repeatedly over a period of time, despite several warnings and interventions, the Premises Licence Holder had failed to comply with his obligations in respect of the following licensing objectives: -

• The Prevention of Crime and Disorder
• Public Safety

The applicant has lodged an appeal, and no court date has been set.