The Licensing Committee of Haringey Council was scheduled to discuss proposed increases to various licensing fees for the 2026-27 financial year. The committee was also set to review and confirm the minutes from a previous meeting held on 6 November 2025.

Review of Fees and Charges 2026-27 for Licences

A key item on the agenda was the proposed review of fees and charges for licensing regimes where the council has the authority to set its own fees for the 2026-27 period. The report indicated that these fee increases are intended to ensure the council can recover its costs associated with managing and administering these licensing functions. A new charge for promotional activity/product sampling was also proposed for administrative procedures.

The report outlined that the council's income policy requires an annual review of fees and charges to ensure full cost recovery and to align with the increasing costs of service delivery. It was noted that a small number of licensing items cannot be decided by the Executive and are therefore reserved for the Licensing Committee. The recommendations included approving a 5% increase on existing discretionary fees and introducing the new promotional activity fees. The report also highlighted that fees for Licensing Act and Gambling Act premises are already set at statutory maximums and constitute a significant portion of the fees collected.

The report referenced the Supreme Court case of Hemmings and others v Westminster City Council, which established that licensing fees must be determined annually and that local authorities are precluded from making a profit from licensing schemes. It also stated that where a fee covers both application and administration costs, separate fees should be set for each activity. Alternative options considered and discounted included doing nothing, reducing discretionary fees, or implementing a significant increase that might create a surplus.

The report detailed various licensing statutes and restrictions, including those for pavement licences, the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005, street trading, massage and special treatment, sex establishments, and leaflet distribution. It also mentioned that animal welfare and licensing fees are calculated based on government guidance. The proposed schedule of fees and charges, detailed in Appendix 1, included a 5% increase for most discretionary fees.

The report also touched upon the council's commitment to its Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, specifically relating to placemaking, economy, and high streets. It noted that income from fees and charges helps manage demand and cover service provision costs. Furthermore, the council's commitment to carbon and climate change was mentioned, with proposed updates to street trading conditions to include bans on single-use plastics and polystyrene, and encouragement for sustainable food packaging and energy sources.

The Head of Legal & Governance confirmed that various legislative powers allow the council to charge fees, with some levels being discretionary and others set by statute. The report reiterated that discretionary charges must be reasonable and proportionate to costs and should not exceed them. It also confirmed that the Licensing Committee has the responsibility for determining fees and charges under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005, as well as other functions not designated to the Executive. The report stated there was no legal reason why the committee should not adopt the recommendations.

An Equality Act 2010 Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) assessment was conducted, which concluded that the proposed changes would have a low overall impact and were not expected to disproportionately affect any protected groups. The assessment noted that the London Local Authorities Act restricts street trading licences to individuals aged 17 and over, a regulation the council has no discretion over.

Minutes of the Licensing Committee Meeting held on 6 November 2025

The committee was scheduled to confirm the minutes from the previous Licensing Committee meeting held on 6 November 2025. The report pack included details of discussions from that meeting, which involved a review of the draft Statement of Licensing Policy. During that previous meeting, discussions included clarifications on how certain paragraphs related to the policy, the need to specify the name of the relevant Act in relation to counterterrorism, and the clarity of figures regarding alcohol-related hospital admissions. Concerns were also raised about security checks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the wording of a statement regarding Londoners' ability to travel safely at night. The previous meeting also discussed the concept of a 24-hour city and the removal of related comments from the policy.

Further discussions from the previous meeting covered the inclusion of initiatives like Ask for Clive and Ask for Angela, the council's stance on sexual entertainment venues (SEVs), and the establishment of a responsible retailer scheme. The potential for a paid advice service on licensing matters was also considered, with a note that additional resourcing would be required to avoid conflicts of interest. The previous committee had resolved to ask Full Council to adopt the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2026–2031.