The Licensing Committee of Lewisham Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday, 18 June 2026. The meeting's agenda includes the appointment of councillors to various licensing sub-committees and the declaration of any personal interests by members.

Appointments to Licensing Sub-Committees

A key item on the agenda is the appointment of councillors to five licensing sub-committees, as stipulated by the London Borough of Lewisham's Constitution. These sub-committees will be responsible for overseeing the discharge of the Council's licensing functions under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005. The report pack outlines the proposed composition of these sub-committees, including Sub-Committee A (Candan, Kowalski, Moore), Sub-Committee B (Aiello, Justin Calcutt-Cheadle, Anifowose), Sub-Committee C (Gil, Powell, Dunne), and Sub-Committee D (Mckenna, Candan, Gil). An Urgency Sub-Committee, comprising Candan, Dunne, and Anifowose, is also proposed to handle summary and short-notice applications for Temporary Event Notices. The report notes that the constitution allows any member of the main Licensing Committee to act as a substitute for a member of any sub-committee, and each sub-committee will appoint its own Chair and Vice-Chair.

This agenda item aligns with the administration's priorities, particularly those relating to an economy of care and Justice, sanctuary and care, as reflected in the Council's emerging corporate delivery plan. Members of the Licensing Committee are reminded to consider the four Licensing Objectives: Protection of Children from Harm, Prevention of Crime and Disorder, Prevention of Public Nuisance, and Public Safety, as well as the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-31.

Declarations of Interest

Members of the committee are also scheduled to declare any personal interests they may have in any item on the agenda. The report pack details three types of personal interests: disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests. Disclosable pecuniary interests are defined by regulation and include employment, sponsorship, contracts, beneficial interests in land, licences to occupy land, corporate tenancies, and beneficial interests in securities of a body. Other registerable interests include membership or control of bodies appointed by the Council, bodies exercising public functions or directed to charitable purposes, and gifts or hospitality received. Non-registerable interests are those that might affect a member's wellbeing, or that of their family or close associates, more than the general local population, but are not required to be registered.

The report outlines the implications of declaring interests, stating that failure to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest and participating in a discussion where such an interest exists is liable to prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000. For other registerable interests, members must still declare them but may remain in the meeting and vote unless a reasonable member of the public would consider their interest significant enough to impair their judgement. The report also mentions provisions for sensitive interests, where disclosure could pose a risk of violence or intimidation, and exempt categories that allow members to participate in decisions despite certain interests.