The Licensing Committee of the Isles of Scilly Council was scheduled to discuss the proposed new Statement of Licensing Policy for 2026-2031 and a revised Street Trading Policy for 2026. The meeting's agenda also included the consideration of draft minutes from the previous meeting.

Consultation Results on Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-31

The committee was scheduled to review the results of a consultation exercise regarding the draft Statement of Licensing Policy for 2026-2031. The report, prepared by Andrew Thomas, Senior Officer for Licensing, focused on the feedback received concerning the policy as a whole, with a particular emphasis on the Cumulative Impact Area (CIA) designation for Hugh Town.

The consultation process, which ran from 30 January to 27 February 2026, yielded 55 anonymous responses. A key theme emerging from the feedback was the perceived failure of the CIA to adequately address late-night noise, alongside a strong support for its retention. Concerns were also raised about a perceived lack of police presence at night in Hugh Town, which respondents felt contributed to noise issues and negatively impacted the experience of tourists.

Furthermore, the consultation highlighted concerns that the presence of a CIA could cause confusion between the police and the council, with a call for more robust enforcement against noise after 11 pm. There was also apprehension that a lack of evidence from environmental health and the police might be given precedence over public consultation feedback.

The report recommended that members give conscientious consideration to the consultation feedback and early engagement exercises to determine whether to continue including the CIA within the Statement of Licensing Policy, with or without further amendment. Subject to any amendments, members were asked to recommend to Full Council that the Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-2031 be approved and published with immediate effect.

The report detailed the legal implications, noting that the Council had failed to comply with statutory requirements for reviewing its CIA. It also outlined the consultation process, which involved engaging with various stakeholders as mandated by the Licensing Act 2003. The report included appendices summarising consultation findings, providing full consultation data, and presenting the draft new licensing policy.

Street Trading Policy 2026

The committee was also scheduled to consider the proposed new Street Trading Policy for 2026, following a 28-day public consultation. The report, authored by Andrew Thomas, Senior Officer: Licensing & Member Liaison, and Officer: Member Liaison, highlighted that the relevant legislation, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, restricts street trading consents to a maximum of 12 months.

The proposed policy aimed to provide a framework for consistent decision-making and guidance for applicants, supporting economic growth and diversity. Key objectives included ensuring public safety, preventing crime and disorder, minimising public nuisance, and supporting the local food offer by providing affordable and agile outlets.

The policy specified Consent Streets and Prohibited Streets, with street trading only permitted in designated Commercial Trading Sites within the consent streets. The council proposed to only consider applications from individuals selling food and drink for public consumption. The report noted that the policy applied only to streets maintained at public expense on St Mary's, as off-island land is primarily owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

A significant change proposed was a move to a single annual application fee of £500, replacing the previous system of an annual fee plus additional monthly charges based on usage. This was intended to streamline administration and reduce the burden on both traders and council officers.

The consultation feedback, summarised in Appendix A, indicated that while some respondents supported the changes, others raised concerns about the fairness of the flat fee, the need for stronger location restrictions, increased enforcement, and the proportionality of DBS checks. There was also a call for clearer guidance on permitted trading types and advertising rules, and for environmental and waste considerations to be integrated into the policy. Some respondents felt that public consultation on new sites should remain a mandatory part of the consent process.

The report included financial and legal implications, noting that the policy aimed to recoup administrative and management costs for each applicant. Appendices included consultation feedback, the proposed Street Trading Policy, an Equality Impact Assessment, and the current Street Trading Policy.