The Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee agreed to support a motion to include the 'Ask for Angela' scheme¹ as recommended best practice in the council's licensing policy. The committee also reviewed and agreed to the work programme for 2025/26, with some additions.

Support for the 'Ask for Angela' Scheme

The committee considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health regarding a motion presented to the council on 12 June 2025 by Councillor Alison West, proposing support for the 'Ask for Angela' Scheme.

Councillor Alison West introduced the motion, highlighting the scheme as a best practice in licensed premises, with strong support from the police.

Some members raised concerns about the adequacy of staff training in licensed premises to effectively implement the scheme. They enquired whether mandatory training could be a condition of premises licences. The Head of Environmental Health clarified that as the scheme is optional, a blanket condition could not be imposed. However, they noted that in cases where a premises licence was reviewed due to safety concerns, an individual condition to implement the scheme could be considered.

The committee also suggested that mystery shopping exercises could be conducted in licensed premises that advertise their support for the scheme, to help support and improve its success.

The committee agreed that the scheme is a worthwhile initiative and should be included in the upcoming review of the Statement of Licensing Policy, to state that participation in the scheme is a recommended best practice.

The committee then voted to support the motion, and agreed that its decision be reported back to the council.

Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee Work Programme

The committee received a report by the Head of Environmental Health presenting the committee's work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year for consideration.

The committee agreed to include the following items in the work programme:

• The additional Licensing Panel training scheduled for 18 November 2025.
• A 'Review of Statement of Licensing Policy - post consultation' to the agenda for the meeting scheduled to take place on 27 January 2026.

The committee then voted to note the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the committee held on 3 March 2025, as detailed in Appendix A of the Item 7 - Work Programme 2025-26 Report, and agreed to the work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year, as detailed in Appendix B of the Item 7 - Work Programme 2025-26 Report, subject to the additions detailed above.

Licensing Panel Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the following Licensing Panel meetings:

• 26 February 2025
• 14 March 2025
• 17 June 2025
• 24 June 2025
• 12 August 2025
• 26 August 2025

Chairman's Announcements

Councillor Pamela Bryant, Chair of the Committee, announced that following the Licensing Panel training carried out on Tuesday 10 June 2025, a further session has been arranged to complement this training which will provide members with the opportunity to review Licensing Panel case studies. The session will take place on Tuesday 18th November 2025.