The Licensing Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 10 February 2026 to discuss and recommend the adoption of a revised Statement of Licensing Policy for 2026-2031, and to consider a motion regarding gambling harm. The committee unanimously recommended the adoption of the revised licensing policy and unanimously carried a motion supporting national gambling reform and the protection of Kingston residents.

Statement of Licensing Policy Under Licensing Act 2003

The committee considered the outcome of a public consultation on the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003. This policy, which is a statutory requirement reviewed at least every five years, sets out the council's approach to licensing decisions. The current policy was approved in July 2021, and the revised draft incorporates updates reflecting current best practices, legislative changes, and new guidance on public health and counter-terrorism. It also addresses concerns regarding safety and nuisance from delivery services.

The consultation process involved feedback from residents, businesses, responsible authorities such as the Metropolitan Police, and other interested parties. Overall, the consultation responses were largely positive, with respondents finding the draft policy clear and effective in balancing the needs of residents and businesses. However, some concerns were raised regarding the off-site impact of licensed premises, including anti-social behaviour and public nuisance, as well as issues related to the increasing use of food and drink delivery services.

A notable point of discussion was the absence of a formal Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) and a designated Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) for Kingston Town Centre. Officers explained that implementing a CIA requires substantial, verifiable evidence, which was considered complex and potentially not robust enough at that time. Anecdotal evidence suggested a possible decrease in official complaints related to the social economy, indicating that a formal CIZ might not currently be warranted.

Members of the committee expressed general support for the recommendations. Officers clarified that the Metropolitan Police, as a responsible authority, can make representations on licensing applications and call for reviews of licences if licensing objectives are undermined. The inclusion of the Ask for Angela initiative as guidance for licence holders was also noted.

The committee RECOMMENDED that the revised Statement of Licensing Policy for 2026-2031 be adopted by the Council at its meeting on 26 February 2026.

Motion Referred to Committee by Council: Gambling Harm

The committee debated a motion, Support National Gambling Reform and Protect Kingston Residents, which had been referred from the Council meeting on 16 December 2025. The motion, originally proposed by Councillor Yvonne Tracey and seconded by Councillor Kamala Kugan, highlighted the growing national issue of gambling addiction, its social costs, and the impact on vulnerable areas. It noted Kingston's presence of betting shops and adult gaming centres, limitations imposed by outdated legislation like the Aim to Permit rule in the Gambling Act 2005, and the normalisation of gambling through online platforms and advertising.

Amendments to the motion were proposed by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Andrew Wooldridge, with the agreement of Councillor Tracey. These amendments included removing a reporting requirement that would have incurred significant officer resources and adding a sentence to clarify that while online gambling is increasing and causing harm, the council's licensing powers are limited to physical premises, which have seen a decline in the borough.

Councillor James Giles spoke in support of the original motion, emphasising the social harm caused by gambling and local opposition to it, referencing the number of suicides associated with problem gambling. He advocated for Kingston to join the coalition of councils calling for urgent gambling reform.

The committee generally supported the substantive motion. A vote was taken, and the motion was CARRIED unanimously. The resolved actions include:

• Support national reform: Joining the coalition of councils calling for urgent gambling reform and endorsing recommendations from the Social Market Foundation's High Streets at Stake report, such as stronger local licensing powers, involvement of Directors of Public Health in gambling licensing, closing loopholes, raising licence fees, clarifying responsibilities, and removing the Aim to Permit rule.
• Raise Kingston's voice nationally: Writing to the Secretaries of State for Culture, Media & Sport and for Health & Social Care to urge legislative reform.
• Support harm reduction: Joining and promoting campaigns like the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) and working with NHS, Public Health, and voluntary sector partners to improve signposting to gambling support and education.

The committee noted that while the number of licensed gambling premises in the borough is declining, online gambling, which is not controlled by the council, is increasing. The council's ability to license physical premises is limited by current legislation, and while the government is considering reforms, the absence of significant clustering of gambling premises in Kingston means that the thresholds for a cumulative impact assessment are unlikely to be met.