The Statutory Licensing Committee of Torfaen Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 25 September 2025, to discuss the review of the council's statement of licensing policy. The meeting will also cover the minutes of previous meetings and licensing hearings.

Here are the topics that are listed on the agenda:

Review of the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy

The committee is expected to discuss the review of the council's statement of licensing policy, as required by the Licensing Act 2003. The current policy covers the period from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2025, and a new statement must be published before 1 November 2025.

The report pack includes a report submitted by Daniel Morelli, Head of Public Protection and Environment, and written by Claire Howells, Team Manager Licensing and Trading Standards, which advises that consultation has taken place with relevant stakeholders, and their responses have been considered in the final draft of the revised policy.

The report pack states that the committee will be asked to approve the final draft revised version of the policy before it is presented to the full council for approval.

The report pack includes the following appendices:

• Responses received to consultation on the council's revised draft of the Statement of Licensing Policy
• Final revised draft version of the council's Statement of Licensing Policy for the period 1 November 2025 – 31 October 2030

The draft policy itself is also included in the report pack, and it includes the following sections:

• Introduction
• Profile of the Borough/City
• Licensing Committee
• Fundamental principles
• Zoning and licensing hours
• Commercial demand
• Alcohol Harm
• Drugs
• Licensing Objectives
• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Prevention of public nuisance
• Public safety
• Protection of children from harm
• Rights of representations
• Responsible authorities
• Other persons
• Integrating strategies
• Personal alcohol licence
• Premises Licences
• Club Premises Certificates
• Temporary event notices
• Sale and supply of alcohol
• Regulated entertainment
• Administration
• Application procedures
• Operating schedule
• Conditions
• Applications where representations are received
• Exercise and delegation of functions
• Reviews of licences
• Cumulative impact policy
• Early morning restriction orders
• Hearings
• Appeals
• Implementing the determination of the Magistrates' Court
• Enforcement
• Fees Generally
• Annual Fees for Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates
• Licence suspension for non-payment of annual fee
• Late night levies
• Further information

The draft policy states that the Licensing Authority wishes to encourage licensees to provide a wide range of entertainment activities in Torfaen throughout their opening hours and to promote live music, dance, theatre, etc. for the wider cultural benefit of the community.

The draft policy also refers to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which places a duty on local authorities to embody sustainable development principles aimed at achieving seven prescribed well-being goals as part of its fundamental operation.

The draft policy notes that Torfaen has the second highest level of adults consuming alcohol above low-risk guidelines in Gwent.

The draft policy also notes that the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also commonly referred to as 'Martyn's Law') received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.

Minutes of Previous Licensing Hearings

The committee will review the minutes of the Statutory Licensing Panel held on Friday, 29 August 2025, which concerned an application to vary the premises licence granted in respect of the Horse and Jockey on Usk Road, New Inn, Pontypool.

The report pack states that Julian Yates, Manager of the Horse & Jockey, attended the meeting to answer questions from the panel and objectors.

The report pack lists the names of the objectors as Anne Nickels, Cheryl Heslop, Mostyn & Diane Richards, Donna Gibson, Sandra Baines, and Phillip Archer.

The minutes record that Ms Nickles objected to the potential for outdoor music to finish at midnight each night of the week, and that Mr Richards raised a concern about patrons parking in residential areas and driving under the influence. Mr Archer objected to the licence allowing live music to take place every night until 1am, and Ms Gibson raised concerns about the volume of live music from the Horse and Jockey.

The minutes also record that the Senior Licensing Officer explained that there had been no concerns raised with Environmental Health surrounding the current noise levels, and that any premises that sell alcohol are permitted to play music until 11pm.

The panel agreed to grant the hours of 8:30-11am twelve times per year, and the extended hours until 1am (last orders at 12:30) twelve times per year only on Thursday-Saturday. The panel refused the extra hours for live music, and stipulated that live music was to finish at 11pm.

Minutes of the Licensing Committee Meeting of 17 July 2025

The committee will be asked to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 July 2025.