The Wiltshire Council Licensing Committee met on Monday 14 September 2026 to discuss updates from various council teams, review minutes from sub-committee meetings, and consider licensing appeals. The meeting's agenda included reports on taxi licensing, public protection licensing, and passenger transport, alongside updates on licensing sub-committee decisions.

Licensing Appeals Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on any appeals that had been lodged against decisions made by the Licensing Sub Committees.

Minutes of Licensing Sub Committees

The minutes of several Licensing Sub Committee meetings were presented for review and signing. These included:

• Northern Area Licensing Sub Committee:
  • The minutes from the 13 January 2026 meeting concerning an application for a Premises Licence for GemFest at Charlton Park, Malmesbury.
  • The minutes from the 18 May 2026 meeting regarding an application for a Review of a Premises Licence for Shindig Festival, also at Charlton Park, Malmesbury.
• Southern Area Licensing Sub Committee:
  • The minutes from the 4 June 2026 meeting concerning an application for a Review of a Premises Licence for Tidworth Kebab and Pizza House, located at 8 Station Road, Tidworth.
  • The minutes from the 5 August 2026 meeting regarding an application for a Premises Licence for Stonehenge Campsite Ltd, situated on Berwick Road, Winterbourne Stoke, Salisbury.

Update from Passenger Transport Team

An update was scheduled to be provided by Jason Salter, Head of Service for the Passenger Transport Unit. This update was expected to cover the growing demand for local authority transport support, particularly for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The report highlighted a projected increase in pupil numbers over the next three to four years. It also detailed ongoing work to understand the taxi provider market and potential gaps, as well as concerns about a few companies securing an increasing share of contracts, which could lead to price increases. The update also noted the successful return to school for over 8,500 young people in September.

Police Licensing Officers Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Police Licensing Officers.

Update from the Taxi Licensing Team

Danial Farr, Principal Compliance Officer, was due to present an update from the Taxi Licensing Team as of August 2026. This update was expected to cover several key areas:

• Wessex Devolution: Progress on the collaborative taxi licensing project involving Wiltshire Council, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Council, and Somerset Council, aiming to create a unified taxi licensing policy. A first draft of the policy was being reviewed by officers, with plans for a cross-party working group to provide member input.
• Safeguarding: The team's successful implementation of a large-scale safeguarding training programme for approximately 400 licensed drivers, completing the required refresher training within a three-week period.
• Service Improvements and Digital Systems: The introduction of a new online booking system for vehicle inspection appointments, allowing licence holders greater flexibility and reducing administrative burdens.
• Uber: The impact of Uber's licensing in Wiltshire, leading to an increase in drivers registering and operating through the platform, and a shift from Hackney Carriage licences to Private Hire licences. The team anticipated an increase in Private Hire Operator licence applications.
• Licence Revocation Appeal: The Council's successful defence of a decision to revoke a Hackney Carriage driver's licence at Swindon Magistrates' Court, demonstrating the effectiveness of the fit and proper person policy.
• Taxi Licensing Statistics: Data as of August 2026, detailing the number of Private Hire Vehicles, Hackney Carriage Vehicles, licensed drivers, and Private Hire Operator Licences. Performance data for vehicle inspections and new driver applications from May to August 2026 was also to be presented.

Update from the Public Protection Licensing Team

Emma Pain, Public Protection Manager – Community Protection, was scheduled to present an update from the Public Protection Licensing Team. This update was expected to cover:

• Event Management: The team's involvement in supporting numerous events across Wiltshire, including dealing with applications, submissions, and site visits. Over ten Event Safety Advisory Group (ESAG) meetings had been held, fostering collaboration between partners. The update was likely to mention the Izambezi Festival, where a Prohibition Notice was issued due to public safety concerns, leading to a review of the Premises Licence by the Licensing Sub Committee.
• Team Updates: The return of Emma Hyde from maternity leave and the joining of Lauren Blake to the Technical Support Team.
• Data Updates: The ongoing work to improve the Arcus system and the impact of the new PaySuite financial system on matching annual fee payments to licences. Statistics for Temporary Event Notices, Premises Licence applications, Premises Licence Reviews, Personal Licence applications, and Small Society Lotteries from April to August 2026 were to be provided, along with the number of premises suspended for non-payment of fees.
• Complaints and Freedom of Information Requests: An increase in complaints related to Temporary Event Notices, particularly during hot weather, and a significant rise in complex Freedom of Information requests.
• Licensed Premises Inspections: The implementation of a new risk rating system for premises inspections, determining future inspection timescales based on risk levels.
• Hearings: A summary of recent and upcoming Licensing Sub Committee hearings, including the Runway Festival, Naada Gama Festival, Shindig Festival, Tidworth Kebab & Pizza House, Stonehenge Campsite, The Wellbeing Hub, and the iZambezi Festival.

Dates of Future Committee Meetings

Members were asked to note the dates of future Licensing Committee meetings scheduled for 7 December 2026 and 8 March 2027.