The Statutory Licensing Committee is scheduled to meet on 1 October 2025 to discuss licensing fees and charges, as well as to approve the minutes of several previous meetings and sub-committee meetings. The meeting will focus on proposed fees and charges related to licences and activities regulated by the committee, and will also cover non-discretionary fees set by statute.

Review of Licensing and Gambling Fees and Charges

The committee is scheduled to review and discuss the fees and charges associated with licences and activities regulated by the Statutory Licensing Committee. According to the report pack, the council aims to maintain a cost-neutral service provision by reviewing fees annually and adjusting them on a three-year rolling basis.

The report pack indicates that Councillor John Roseblade, Director of Resident Services, will be responsible for this agenda item, with support from Paul Dosanjh, Service Manager for Trading Standards & Licensing Act.

The committee will consider the following:

• Non-discretionary fees and charges related to the Licensing Act 2003, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report pack. The report pack notes that these fees are set by statute and cannot be changed.
• Approval of fees and charges for the Gambling Act 2005, effective from 1 October 2025, as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report pack. These fees are set at the capped maximum limit, based on the cost of providing the service.
• Other fees and charges for permits set by the Secretary of State related to the Gambling Act 2005, over which the council has no local control.

The report pack notes that certain applications under the Licensing Act 2003 are exempt from fees, including those related to regulated entertainment within educational institutions, church halls, village halls, and community halls.

The report pack states that the council may allow businesses facing financial difficulties to spread the cost of licence renewals over a short term, with full settlement required by the end of the financial year, and agreed by the Service Manager.

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

The committee will also be asked to approve the minutes from a number of previous meetings. These include:

• Statutory Licensing Committee meeting held on 11 June 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 5 June 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 18 June 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 30 June 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 6 August 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 13 August 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 20 August 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 16 September 2025
• Statutory Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 22 August 2025