Agenda item

To review the Statement of Licensing Policy.

LICENSING COMMITTEE

(Sophie Anne Fernandes)

23 November 2021

Statement of Licensing Policy

The City of London Corporation, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, was required to publish its statutory Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003 by the end of January 2022. It was felt that the existing Policy did not require a major overhaul and amendments had been made to cover legislative changes to the Licensing Act 2003 and to recognise the effects of the recent pandemic and how that was affecting, and may continue to affect, licensed premises.

The Policy had also been revised to include the effects on licensed premises of issues that were more prevalent today or issues where people’s perceptions had changed and were more in the public eye than five years ago. These included steps to mitigate terrorist activity and steps that can be taken to assist vulnerable people.

Following a period of public consultation, the revised Policy was now presented for approval.

Introducing the report, the Chair commented that the foreword had been written in a positive tone prior to the most recent Government announcements around Covid-related restrictions. Whilst she held every hope that things would move forward in this positive vein afterwards, she took the opportunity to urge continued support for the City’s hospitality businesses and echoed the plea made earlier in the meeting for further support for the hospitality sector.

Resolved – That the revised Statement of Licensing Policy, as set out at Appendix 1, be approved for adoption.