Councillor John Hewitt

Review of Statement of Licensing Policy 2026

From: Licensing Committee (Licensing Act 2003 Functions) - Thursday, 6th November, 2025 3.00pm - November 06, 2025

...that the Licensing Committee approved revisions to the Statement of Licensing Policy 2026, including replacing the Cumulative Impact Zone with a City Safety Area, retaining the Special Stress Area, focusing on safety with best practice measures, updating the matrix approach, introducing a Good Operator Policy, and updating safeguarding initiatives, and referred the revised policy to Full Council for adoption.

Recommendations Approved

Licence Fees 2026/27 (Non Licensing Act 2003)

From: Licensing Committee (Non Licensing Act 2003 Functions) - Thursday, 6th November, 2025 3.00pm - November 06, 2025

...to recommend to Full Council for adoption a revised Statement of Licensing Policy that includes replacing the Cumulative Impact Zone with a City Safety Area, retaining the Special Stress Area, focusing on safety with new best practice measures, updating the matrix approach to include new premises categories and changes to hours, introducing a Good Operator Policy, and updating nighttime economy safeguarding initiatives with additions on LGBTQ+ venues, inclusivity, Violence Against Women and Girls, Modern Slavery, and Martyn’s Law, as well as approving the proposed licence fees for 2026/27 for taxi, sex establishment, street trading, gambling, body piercing, and animal activity licenses.

For Determination

Council Plan Refresh

From: Rescheduled from 23 October 2025, Council - Monday, 13th October, 2025 4.30pm - October 13, 2025

... the Council approved the Council Plan refresh, noted achievements since the plan's adoption in 2023 and progress in delivering it in 2024/25, and noted the recommendations in the Corporate Peer Challenge and the response to them in the Council Plan Refresh.

Recommendations approved

Gaza and Council Financial Exposure

From: Rescheduled from 23 October 2025, Council - Monday, 13th October, 2025 4.30pm - October 13, 2025

Recommendations Approved

Partial Review of Polling District and Polling Places 2025

From: Rescheduled from 23 October 2025, Council - Monday, 13th October, 2025 4.30pm - October 13, 2025

...to approve the revised polling district and polling place schemes outlined in Appendix 3, delegate authority to the Director Governance and Law to implement the changes, and delegate authority to the Returning Officer to designate alternative polling places if needed before the next review, subject to consultation.

Recommendations Approved