The Licensing and Public Protection Committee of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is scheduled to meet on 8 October 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the renewal of a Public Space Protection Order for Newcastle town centre, proposed fees for licensing, updates on taxi licensing appeals, and the annual air quality report. The committee will also consider a new Statement of Licensing Policy.

Here are the key topics that the committee is expected to discuss:

Newcastle Town Centre Public Space Protection Order Renewal

The committee is scheduled to discuss the renewal of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Newcastle town centre. The PSPO, which has been in effect since 2019 and was reviewed in 2022, aims to address crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

The report for the Public Protection and Licensing Committee – October 2025, states that the main issues in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre have been street drinking, drug taking, aggressive and/or persistent begging, general antisocial behaviour and vandalism/defacement of property, and that more recently, unauthorised encampments and misuse of e-scooters have also been an issue.

The proposed prohibitions for the Newcastle town centre PSPO are:

Engaging in behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress within the Exclusion Zone including:

• Congregating in a group of three or more persons within the Exclusion Zone following a request from an Authorised Person that such group must disperse.
• Being verbally abusive to any other person within the Exclusion Zone.
• Using or threatening to use violence against any other person within the Exclusion Zone.
• Having in their possession open cans, bottles or other unsealed receptacles containing alcoholic beverages (including empty receptacles) within the Exclusion Zone.
• Carrying out any form of graffiti on any surface within the Exclusion Zone.
• Possessing or using of an aerosol and/or any item intended to cause defacement within the exclusion Zone.
• Failing to cease to consume alcohol and/or surrender alcohol when requested to do so by a police officer or other authorised person.
• Any person is prohibited from riding an E-scooter (and an e-bike which does not meet the standard requirements of an Electronically Assisted Pedal Cycle). Any person may push and walk alongside their E-scooter (or non-complaint e-bike) through the exclusion zone.
• Not to consume alcohol within the exclusion zone unless within a licenced premises or within a designated area subject to a street traders licence.
• Ingesting, inhaling, injecting, smoking or otherwise using intoxicating substances including novel psychoactive substances within the Exclusion Zone.
• Persistent and aggressive begging, causing obstruction, harassment and threatening behaviour, which could cause intimidation.
• Failing to deposit litter of any form in any area other than in a designated receptacle.
• Not to urinate / defecate in public view.
• Not to discard hypodermic needles or syringes in a public space (except in an appropriate sharps container)
• Not to erect a temporary structure in a public place without the permission of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Temporary structures includes but is not limited to stalls, tents, tables, trestles or leaflet stands.
• Obstructing a building or exit, stairwell or highway after being asked to move by an authorised officer.

The committee will be asked to approve a 12-week public consultation on the renewed PSPO.

Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-30

The committee will be asked to consider the outcome of a public consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy and to approve the policy for submission to the council. Under Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003, the council is required to revise its Statement of Licensing Policy every five years. The statement sets out the council's policy with respect to the exercise of its licensing functions, ensuring that the policy meets the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.

According to the Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-30 report, during the consultation period, the council received one response from the council's Environmental Health Department, which included proposed model conditions in relation to the prevention of public nuisance.

The proposed policy includes updates to weblinks and terminology, references to the Cumulative Impact Assessment¹, inclusion of approved Digital ID to be used as proof of age, reference to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, consolidation of sections relating to the council's duties to those with protected characteristics, and removal of outdated model conditions.

Fees for Licensing of Scrap Metal Dealers, Gambling and Sexual Entertainment Venues

The committee will be presented with a report on the fees to be charged for the licensing of scrap metal dealers, gambling, and sexual entertainment venues for 2026-27. The approval of these fees is a council function delegated to the Licensing Committee. The proposed fees and charges are detailed in the Gambling SEV and Scrap Licensing Fees Report.

Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Fees and Charges 2026/2027

The committee will consider proposed private hire and hackney carriage fees and charges for 2026/2027, as detailed in the Private Hire Hackney Carriage Fees Charges report. The council is required to set fees for private hire and hackney carriage licences, and the proposed fees are based on cost recovery. The committee will be asked to approve the proposed fees for consultation.

Update on Results of Taxi Licensing Appeals

The committee will receive an update on the results of taxi licensing appeals that have been considered since the last report. According to the Update on Results of Taxi Licensing Appeals report, since 17 September 2024, the council has been involved in seven magistrates' court appeals and one Crown Court appeal. Five of the magistrates' appeals and the Crown Court appeal were withdrawn in advance of the court dates. Out of the two remaining appeals, one was upheld, and one was dismissed.

Environment Act 1995 - Part IV Local Air Quality Management - Annual Status Report 2025

The committee will be asked to receive the Annual Status Report 2025, which advises on the findings of air quality in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The report covers the 2024 calendar year and has been accepted by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Previous assessments have identified nitrogen dioxide as the pollutant of concern, with a number of locations within the borough exceeding the nitrogen dioxide annual mean objective, principally due to road traffic emissions. The review of nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube monitoring data has not identified any locations outside of the one remaining Air Quality Management Area² (AQMA) where the Air Quality Strategy annual nitrogen dioxide objective was exceeded in 2024.

Minutes of Sub-Committee Meetings

The committee will be asked to consider the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held since the previous Licensing and Public Protection Committee, and the minutes of the Public Protection Sub-Committee meetings held since the previous Licensing and Public Protection Committee. These include the Minutes 11082025 Licensing Sub-Committee, Minutes Public Pack 13082025 Public Protection Sub-Committee and Minutes 17092025 Public Protection Sub-Committee.