URL: https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1019

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Committee received for information, the annual report for the financial year ending 31 March 2025, on matters dealt with under the Licensing Act 2003.   The report contained a mixture of statistical information and narrative.  Officers highlighted that the number of premises licences remained stable at 260, club premises certificates at 34 and that the number of temporary event notices given had fallen very slightly on the previous year from 236 to 199 of which 39 were ‘late TENs’.   There had been one Hearing in the year concerning Bread & Butter, a new Convenience store in Chertsey, where the residents’ representations had not been resolved so could not be dealt with under delegated authority.   Members were informed about the level of incidents in licensed premises and public houses based on information supplied by the Police Licensing Team, with whom Officers worked closely.  Of the 46 incidents relating to public houses, the majority related to public order/attempted assault/assault (27).   Officers reported continued partnership working with the other responsible authorities, with an intelligence led approach to enforcement and inspection.  One such example was the number of visits made to premises where their annual fee was overdue with positive results, which avoided having to exercise the Council’s powers to suspend a licence for non-payment.  Officers attended the Joint Action Group and Serious Organised Crime meetings.  They also played an active role on the Council’s Safety Advisory Group, where it was possible to have an oversight of events taking place in the borough and to provide advice to event organisers to ensure their events were safe and successful.   Officers had dealt with three complaints during the year; these ranged from trading outside of permitted hours to refusal to provide tap water at an event.  The Committee was provided with a breakdown of complaints received by Environmental Health relating to health and safety, food safety and noise.   Members were advised that Pubwatch only continued to operate in the North of the borough, but was not necessarily well attended by the scheme members owing to a lack of resources.  The Chair of the Egham and District (North) Group had very recently resigned, although it did have an active ‘what’s app’ group to which its members subscribed.  It was difficult to do more than encourage participation as it was not an organisation run by the Council, but one to which the Council was an invitee.   Officers outlined some service improvements made during the year, keeping the website up to date with relevant and customer focussed information.   Members recalled that when the pre-application fee process was introduced in April 2024, it was agreed to confirm how many people had taken advantage of the service.  Officers confirmed this was 4 requests for 2024/25, generating a cost recovery income of £491.   Officers confirmed that the Business and Planning Act 2020 easement had not been made permanent.  The provisions brought in during Covid, to allow premises licence holders who were only permitted to do on-sales to additionally make off-sales for consumption within an adjacent licensed pavement area.  From 31 March 2025, such applications would be treated as a minor variation.  None to date had been received.   Members noted a table setting out new and proposed legislation.  These were the: ·         Data (Use and Access) Bill, introducing the ability to accept certified digital identities on the list of accepted age verification methods for alcohol sales; ·         Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, to simplify the process for temporarily relaxing licensing hours on occasions of national importance; ·         Crime and Policing Bill, including a provision to make spiking a criminal offence to strengthen tackling violence against women and girls ·         Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law ·         Tobacco and Vapes Bill.    The latter two being addressed in items elsewhere on this and the Regulatory Committee’s agendas respectively.   Finally, Members noted that a review of the Council’s Licensing Policy would take place over the summer with a view to an updated policy being adopted by the full Council in December 2025.   Officers were thanked for their report which was duly noted.

Date of Decision: June 18, 2025