The Licensing (Premises) Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 21 April 2026. The primary item on the agenda was a review of the council's Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003.

Review of Buckinghamshire Council's Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to a review of Buckinghamshire Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, as required by the Licensing Act 2003. This policy, originally adopted in March 2022, needs to be reviewed and republished by March 2027. The report pack indicated that the council is required to consult with various stakeholders, including the police, fire authority, public health authority, and representatives of local licence holders, businesses, and residents. The proposed consultation approach was to be endorsed, with a draft policy intended to be presented to the committee in September 2026 before referral to Full Council for adoption.

The report highlighted that the Licensing Act 2003 mandates the promotion of four key licensing objectives: preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, preventing public nuisance, and protecting children from harm. The council's policy sets out its approach to promoting these objectives when carrying out its licensing functions. The review also needed to consider the government's non-statutory National Licensing Policy Framework for the hospitality and leisure sectors, which encourages a more transparent and growth-supportive approach to licensing. The council's current policy, adopted in November 2021, is available on the council's website. The report indicated that the review process would involve direct communication with statutory consultees, stakeholder drop-in sessions, an online consultation via Your Voice Bucks, and engagement with Town and Parish Councils.

The report also detailed the legal and financial implications, noting that the work would be met from existing service resources. Corporate implications were also outlined, including how the policy integrates with strategies for strengthening communities, improving the environment, protecting the vulnerable, and increasing prosperity. The policy aims to promote equality and diversity, and the council is committed to complying with the Equality Act 2010. The report also touched upon partnerships with regulatory authorities, Pubwatch schemes, and other local initiatives.

The report further elaborated on how the policy works in practice, covering aspects such as licensing hours, standards of management, and licence conditions. It provided detailed guidance on promoting each of the four licensing objectives, including specific measures for preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, preventing public nuisance, and protecting children from harm. This included considerations for off-licences, large events, sexual entertainment venues, pavement trading, and cumulative impact policies. The report stated that at the time of publication, Buckinghamshire Council had not been presented with sufficient evidence to support the adoption of any cumulative impact policies within its area.

The report also outlined the licensing process, including applications for premises licences, temporary events, personal licences, and licence reviews. It detailed the roles of the Licensing Committee and Sub-Committee, as well as the scheme of delegation for decision-making. The principles of enforcement were also discussed, emphasizing a graduated response and multi-agency working.

The meeting agenda also included the minutes of the previous meeting, which had taken place on Thursday 19 March 2026. The minutes indicated that a decision was made to approve a proposed 5% increase in gambling premises licence fees for the 2026-27 financial year. This increase was intended to ensure the service remained cost-neutral, covering rising staffing and overhead expenses. The report explained that the gambling licensing regime is statutorily required to operate on a cost-neutral basis, with costs met entirely from licence fee income.

The final item on the agenda was the date of the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, 5 May 2026.