The Licensing Committee of Redbridge Council met on Thursday 11 June 2026. The meeting's agenda included the establishment of a Licensing Sub-Committee and an update on the Licensing Service's activities and future planning.

Establishment of the Licensing Sub-Committee

The committee was scheduled to consider the formal establishment of a Licensing Sub-Committee, as required by Section 9 of the Licensing Act 2003. The report outlined recommendations for the Sub-Committee to comprise three members of the Licensing Committee, with agreed operational procedures for convening its meetings. These procedures included consulting all Licensing Committee members on availability, selecting three members proportionally, and ensuring no member serves on a Sub-Committee if the premises in question is within their ward. The report also highlighted that the Sub-Committee's work would help safeguard children and young people.

Licensing Service Update

A comprehensive update on the Licensing Service's activities between April 1st, 2025, and March 31st, 2026, was scheduled for discussion. This included data on applications received under the Licensing Act 2003, such as new premises applications, variations, licence reviews, and temporary event notices (TENs). The report detailed the outcomes of determinations made by the Licensing Sub-Committee for these applications, including grants, partial grants, and rejections.

The update also covered applications processed under other legislation, including the London Local Authorities Act 1990, the Business and Planning Act 2020, Animal Welfare Regulations, the Gambling Act 2005, the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, and the Explosives Regulations 2014. Details of enforcement activities undertaken by the Licensing Service were also to be presented, encompassing licence representations, warning notices, advisory notices, and joint enforcement inspections.

Significant upcoming changes and future planning were also on the agenda. This included the restructuring of the Met Police Licensing Teams, which has resulted in a reduction of police resources available for licensing matters. The report also detailed proposed London Licensing Reforms, which would grant the Greater London Authority (GLA) new powers, including setting a licensing policy for Greater London and potentially 'calling in' licence applications of strategic importance. Furthermore, the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products, was discussed, with the expectation that this function would be managed by existing Licensing Authorities. Finally, the report outlined upcoming policy work, including the refreshing of the Cumulative Impact Assessment and the development of a new Statement of Gambling Policy.