The Runnymede Borough Council Licensing Committee met on 18 September 2025 to discuss the review of the Statement of Licensing Policy. The committee approved the revised Licensing Policy for public consultation and agreed to discuss the consultation results at a meeting in November, before recommending it for adoption by the full council in December 2025. The committee also received the annual report on the Licensing Act 2003 and noted the Royal Assent of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn's Law.

Review of the Statement of Licensing Policy (2026-2031)

The committee approved the revised Licensing Policy for public consultation, with the results of the consultation to be brought back to the committee in November for further discussion, before being recommended for adoption by the full council in December 2025.

The draft revised Licensing Policy is proposed to be effective from 7 January 2026 to 6 January 2031. The policy sets out the council's approach to licensing regulation for alcohol sales, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment within the borough, in order to mitigate the risk of harm to the public.

The main changes to the policy include updates to reflect new guidance and legislation, as well as edits for clarity and consistency. Some of the key revisions include:

• Noting the potential effects of proposed local government reorganisation.
• Updating the borough of Runnymede information.
• Updating the section on equalities and adding further equalities information.
• Confirming that 'on sales only' licence holders' applications to add off sales may be treated as a minor variation.
• Confirming that full variations should not be used to substantially change a premises licence if the licensing objectives might be adversely impacted; a new premises licence application is required in these circumstances.
• Updating to confirm conditions contained within the operating schedule will be interpreted in accordance with the applicant's intentions.
• Introducing the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
• Adding a new point on safeguarding and associated schemes and initiatives to help identify, manage and prevent vulnerability.
• Adding a new point supporting the reporting and reduction of sexual harassment, misconduct and violence against woman and girls.
• Adding a new point in line with guidance expecting measures and staff training to prevent incidents of spiking.
• Adding a new point to consider what practical steps can be taken to demonstrate best practice in advance of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 coming into force.
• Adding that once new legislation comes into force that certified digital identities will be added to the list of accepted age verification methods for alcohol sales.
• Amending and adding to the Portman Group Code of Practice[^2]. [^2]: The Portman Group is the social responsibility body for alcohol producers in the UK.

The Equality Screening Assessment that was carried out on the revised policy was referred to the Council's Equalities Group for any comments.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025

The committee noted the Royal Assent of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025¹, more commonly known as Martyn's Law, which is likely to come into force in 2027. The Act introduces requirements on those responsible for certain larger, publicly accessible premises, including their immediate surrounds, and qualifying events, to implement procedures and measures to protect against terrorist attacks. The Act does not apply to private premises. Licensing authorities will be expected to support and promote the law through their licensing policies, although the regulator for the Act has been confirmed as the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Officers explained that the premises and land caught by the legislative requirements was decided according to activity and capacity. Firstly, they had to fall within one of the defined 'Schedule 1' uses thereunder. In the hospitality sector these included:

• The retail sale of goods
• The sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises
• Entertainment and leisure activities
• Sports grounds
• Hotels and holiday parks
• Visitor attractions

The second test was the premises capacity, capturing those venues where it was reasonably expected that 200 or more people would be on site, from time to time (including staff). There were two tiers; these being the 'Standard tier' (200 – 799 people from time to time), and the 'Enhanced tier' (800 or more from time to time). 'Qualifying events' (800 or more from time to time also fell within the 'Enhanced tier.'). The capacity tier thresholds could be altered if the Government's Terrorism Threat level changed.

The level of the tier would dictate the 'public protection procedures' and or 'measures' that needed to be taken to comply with the requirements. In practice, premises and events in scope would have to conduct careful risk assessments, put procedures in place and provide staff training regarding keeping people safe. At the enhanced level, measures were around 'people', 'processes' and 'physical measures', such as CCTV.

The designated 'responsible person' for an enhanced tier premises or event would have to provide the regulator with a copy of their documented procedures. The Licensing Act 2003 would be amended to allow for sensitive information contained in floor plans, to be kept out of the public domain to maintain security.

Members sought clarification on whether some of the borough's regular annual events would be affected. It was confirmed that some of them would be but that there would be a long lead in period to assist those responsible to meet the requirements and that they were not intended to be onerous or restrictive. Officers also commented that there was very useful 'Prevent' training available which event organisers were encouraged to participate in.

Officers will bring an update on implementation and operation of the Act to a future meeting of the Committee when the two sets of statutory guidance were published covering obligations of responsible persons and the role of the SIA.

2025 Annual Report on the Licensing Act 2003

The committee received the annual report for the financial year ending 31 March 2025, on matters dealt with under the Licensing Act 2003.

The report contained a mixture of statistical information and narrative. Officers highlighted that the number of premises licences remained stable at 260, club premises certificates at 34 and that the number of temporary event notices given had fallen very slightly on the previous year from 236 to 199 of which 39 were 'late TENs'.

There had been one Hearing in the year concerning Bread & Butter, a new Convenience store in Chertsey, where the residents' representations had not been resolved so could not be dealt with under delegated authority.

Members were informed about the level of incidents in licensed premises and public houses based on information supplied by the Police Licensing Team, with whom Officers worked closely. Of the 46 incidents relating to public houses, the majority related to public order/attempted assault/assault (27).

Officers reported continued partnership working with the other responsible authorities, with an intelligence led approach to enforcement and inspection. One such example was the number of visits made to premises where their annual fee was overdue with positive results, which avoided having to exercise the Council's powers to suspend a licence for non-payment. Officers attended the Joint Action Group and Serious Organised Crime meetings. They also played an active role on the Council's Safety Advisory Group, where it was possible to have an oversight of events taking place in the borough and to provide advice to event organisers to ensure their events were safe and successful.

Officers had dealt with three complaints during the year; these ranged from trading outside of permitted hours to refusal to provide tap water at an event. The Committee was provided with a breakdown of complaints received by Environmental Health relating to health and safety, food safety and noise.

Members were advised that Pubwatch only continued to operate in the North of the borough, but was not necessarily well attended by the scheme members owing to a lack of resources. The Chair of the Egham and District (North) Group had very recently resigned, although it did have an active 'what's app' group to which its members subscribed. It was difficult to do more than encourage participation as it was not an organisation run by the Council, but one to which the Council was an invitee.

Officers outlined some service improvements made during the year, keeping the website up to date with relevant and customer focussed information.

Members recalled that when the pre-application fee process was introduced in April 2024, it was agreed to confirm how many people had taken advantage of the service. Officers confirmed this was 4 requests for 2024/25, generating a cost recovery income of £491.

Officers confirmed that the Business and Planning Act 2020 easement had not been made permanent. The provisions brought in during Covid, to allow premises licence holders who were only permitted to do on-sales to additionally make off-sales for consumption within an adjacent licensed pavement area. From 31 March 2025, such applications would be treated as a minor variation. None to date had been received.

Members noted a table setting out new and proposed legislation. These were the:

• Data (Use and Access) Bill, introducing the ability to accept certified digital identities on the list of accepted age verification methods for alcohol sales;
• Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, to simplify the process for temporarily relaxing licensing hours on occasions of national importance;
• Crime and Policing Bill, including a provision to make spiking a criminal offence to strengthen tackling violence against women and girls
• Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, more commonly known as Martyn's Law
• Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The latter two being addressed in items elsewhere on this and the Regulatory Committee's agendas respectively.