The Regulatory and Licensing Committee were scheduled to discuss a number of proposed changes to public spaces, including the revocation of an air quality management area, proposed diversions to public footpaths, and a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order for dog control. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss and approve a draft of the new Licensing Act 2003 Policy.

Licensing Act 2003 Policy

The committee were scheduled to review the Licensing Act 2003 Policy, which must be reviewed every five years. The policy details how the council will administer and enforce the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and the principles it will apply to promote the licensing objectives¹. The four licensing objectives are:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The revised policy incorporates changes to legislation and guidance, and the introduction of initiatives since the current policy was adopted in 2020. This includes:

• Ask for Angela²
• Child sexual exploitation
• Drink spiking
• Drugs
• Public health
• Counter terrorism
• Modern slavery and human trafficking

The revised policy also includes details relevant to filling stations/garages, wholesale retail of alcohol, mobile remote internet, and other delivery sales, and how these businesses will be regulated under the policy.

The revised policy also references late night levies³, early morning restriction orders⁴, and late night refreshment deregulation. The committee were also scheduled to discuss a draft cumulative impact assessment (CIA) for Lichfield city centre. A CIA may be published by the council where there is evidence to demonstrate that the number or density of licensed premises in the area is having a cumulative impact and leading to problems which are undermining the licensing objectives. The current policy includes a cumulative impact assessment covering Bird Street and Market Street only. Staffordshire Police has requested an extension to the current area to include the wider city centre to ensure that it remains effective in managing levels of crime and disorder.

The committee were asked to support the proposal to retain and extend the cumulative impact assessment area to cover the city centre to support the promotion of the licensing objectives, and agree for the statement of licensing policy and cumulative impact assessment to go to consultation for a period of four weeks. Following the period of consultation, and any resulting amendments, the committee were scheduled to recommend to the council that they adopt the statement of licensing policy and cumulative impact assessment at their meeting on 9 Dec 25.

Public Spaces Protection Order

The committee were scheduled to discuss a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for dog control. PSPOs, created under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, can cover a range of anti-social behaviours. A PSPO was introduced in August 2024, but it has subsequently become clear from a Parish Council and some Village Hall Trustees that they would like some measures in relation to parks and children's playgrounds in their areas. A second dog control PSPO is therefore proposed to tackle these areas.

The dog control measures proposed are:

• Any person in charge of a dog who permits the dog to enter or remain on land at Hill Ridware Village Hall Play Area and Open Space shall be guilty of an offence.
• Any person in charge of a dog who permits the dog to enter or remain on land at Drayton Bassett Park without being on a lead of no more than 2 metres in length shall be guilty of an offence.

The committee were scheduled to agree that a statutory consultation exercise takes place relating to the proposed PSPO, delegate authority to the Regulation & Enforcement Manager, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee to review a summary of consultation responses, and recommend to the cabinet member that the PSPO be introduced if no significant objections emerge as part of the consultation, and no issues arise as a consequence of legal compliance checks.

Revocation of Air Quality Management Area

The committee were scheduled to discuss the revocation of the A5 Muckley Corner Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) No 1. The AQMA was declared in 2008 because measured nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the area exceeded the annual mean objective of 40µg/m3 as set in the Environment Act 1995.

Measured levels of NO2 in AQMA No 1 have been 10% or more below the annual mean objective for 5 years. This has been reported to DEFRA, who have advised that they support revocation of AQMA No 1.

The committee were scheduled to recommend to the cabinet member that Air Quality Management Area Order No. 1 be revoked.

Public Footpath Diversions

The committee were scheduled to discuss applications from Jen Towers, Redrow Homes Midlands, for the permanent diversion of Public Footpath No. 11 and Public Footpath No. 12 in the Parish of Curborough & Elmhurst, and Public Footpath No. 4 in the Parish of Streethay and Fradley.

The applications have been made in connection with planning applications 21/01859/REMM and 22/00040/REMM for the development of a residential development off Watery Lane, Curborough.

The committee were scheduled to consider a recommendation to approve the proposed diversions.

The committee were also scheduled to discuss an application from Derek Lord, The Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, for the diversion of Public Footpath No. 1R/1994 (Part) in the Parish of Lichfield.

The existing path crosses the line of the Lichfield Canal, which is being restored under planning consent 23/00766/FULM. Within the canal channel, the path will be replaced by a lift bridge.

The committee were scheduled to consider a recommendation to approve the proposed diversion.

Other Matters

The committee were also scheduled to receive a verbal update on taxi enforcement activity since the last committee meeting and review the work programme for 2025/26.