The Licensing Committee of Westminster Council met on Wednesday 11 February 2026 to review licensing fees, discuss proposed changes to the Statement of Licensing Policy, and receive an update on licensing appeals. The committee approved the proposed licensing fees for 2026-2027, noted the report on the Statement of Licensing Policy review, and noted the update on licensing appeals.

Licensing Fee Review 2026-2027

The committee approved the proposed licensing fees for the upcoming financial year, which are set to take effect from 1 April 2026. These fees have been calculated on a full cost recovery basis, encompassing both direct and indirect costs associated with processing, monitoring, and enforcing licences. The report indicated an average uplift of 6-7% across all licences, estimated to generate approximately £75,000. A specific point of discussion noted that the cost for marriage licences had decreased due to an increase in applications. An action was agreed to always include a single table showing current and planned fees with percentage changes in future annual reports.

Statement of Licensing Policy Review

The committee received an update on the early stages of reviewing the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which is due for re-publication by October 2026. The review aims to simplify and modernise the policy, aligning it with contemporary issues such as women's safety, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and Net Zero targets. The committee discussed the potential impact of the forthcoming Greater London Authority (GLA) pilot scheme for a London-wide strategic licensing framework, noting that the Licensing Act 2003 will remain the primary legislation. The review will also consider potential policy changes including the recognition of Westminster After Dark Opportunity Areas, modernisation of premises use types, application of the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) framework, integration of key safety provisions like Martyn's Law, and the use of accessible language. The report highlighted that the revised policy will not be applied retrospectively.

Update of Licensing Appeals

The committee received an update on recent licensing appeals handled by Legal Services. Five appeals had been settled, two withdrawn, and two new appeals received, leaving six pending. Notable updates included:

• Sunset Strip: The appeal was withdrawn, but the legal costs of £7,936 remain due. However, as Soho Mead Limited has been struck off by Companies House, enforcement of the order is not possible.
• Sunny Corner: The appeal was withdrawn, and the council obtained an order for costs totalling £17,898.54. It was noted that this sum would likely be pursued as a debt through litigation.
• Albert Scholls: The appeal was withdrawn, but the council is seeking full recovery of its costs, amounting to £10,707.69, and intends to serve one of the directors as well as the company.
• Global Radio and others v Westminster City Council: The council's appeal to the Crown Court against a sentence imposed by the District Judge concerning statutory nuisance from buskers in Leicester Square was scheduled to be heard on 11 March 2026.