The Statutory Licensing Committee convened to review the decisions of the Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee from July 9, 2025, and to discuss the 2024/2025 performance report from the Team Manager - Trading Standards & Licensing. The committee accepted both the sub-committee's decisions and the performance report. Future meetings were scheduled to follow directly after the General Licensing Committee meetings at 10:00 a.m.

Performance Report 2024/2025

The committee accepted and noted the contents of the Performance Report 2024/2025 from the Team Manager - Trading Standards & Licensing. The report provided an overview of the licensing activities undertaken between April 2024 and March 2025. Licensing functions are handled across multiple council departments, with the presented data focusing on the Licensing Team's performance, as defined by the council's constitution. Some data falls under the Economic Development and Environment Scrutiny Committee's jurisdiction, specifically within the Neighbourhood and Environment Services portfolio.

Key highlights from the report included:

• Licensing Team Staffing and Duties: The Licensing Team is managed by Steve Osborne, Team Manager - Trading Standards & Licensing, and includes Helen Jones (Senior Licensing Officer), Sarah Burchell (Licensing Enforcement Officer), Ros Pink (Licensing Officer), and Stella Jayne (Licensing Officer).
• Commercial Team Staffing and Duties: The Commercial Team includes Lisa Griffin (Team Manager Commercial), four Specialist Environmental Health Officers (Simon Morse, Rhydian West, Karen Moore, and Rosie Bomford), two Environmental Health Technicians (Sally Williams and Matthew Davenport) and one Environmental Health Technical Apprentice (Helen Lewis).
• Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing: Applications for licences fluctuated, with all applications processed within legal timescales. There was a decrease in premises transfer applications but a doubling of new premises applications.
• Complaints: 15 complaints were received relating to licensed premises. These included issues such as violent disorder, noise complaints, underage sales of alcohol, serving after hours, and allegations of assault by a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).
• Gambling, Gaming and Lotteries: No applications were received for gambling premises licences. Five small society lottery registration applications were received, an increase from the previous year. One complaint was made about the running of a small society lottery registration, and the complainant was directed to Gwent Police.
• Inspection and Enforcement Activities: Officers collaborated with Gwent Police on pub watch groups, with support from the Community Safety team. The Licensing Enforcement Officer partnered with various regulatory organisations, including Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Police, and Immigration Services.
• Licensing Act 2003 Annual Fees: A significant number of licensees did not pay their fees on time, requiring follow-up action by officers.
• Committee Meetings and Hearings: Details of committee meetings and hearings were provided.
• Policies: The council's Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy¹ is due for review, potentially earlier than initially planned, to align with other Gwent Licensing Authorities.
• Fees: An inflationary increase was agreed for 2024/25 licence fees within the council's control.
• Freedom of Information Requests: No Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were received regarding the Licensing Act 2003 or the Gambling Act 2005.
• Special Procedures Update: Work continued to implement the new Special Procedures regime, with engagement including consultation events with Welsh Government, mailings, and application support sessions.

Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee Decisions

The committee approved the decisions made at the Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on July 9, 2025.

The sub-committee addressed a review of the premises licence for The Bush Inn, 1 Bailey Street, Brynmawr, following representations from Gwent Police, Trading Standards, and Environmental Health. The sub-committee decided to accept the recommended additional premises licence conditions from these bodies. The licensing team was instructed to ensure compliance with the enhanced conditions, and the licence holder was warned that future breaches could lead to further review of the licence.