Meeting Details

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Chair informed the Committee that this meeting marked the final Licensing Committee for Teresa Bailey, Senior Licensing Officer, who would be retiring at the end of the year. He extended his personal thanks to Teresa for her support and dedication. The Committee joined the Chair in expressing their sincere gratitude for Teresa’s hard work, professionalism and commitment to Licensing and wished her all the very best for her retirement.

On the proposition of Councillor Folley, seconded by Councillor Hedgley, it was 

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee received report ES/2550 of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health, which sought approval for the proposed table of fees and charges for the year 2026/27 to be implemented on 1 April 2026.

Councillor Candy introduced the report, advising the Committee that the Council was responsible for licensing the following:

1 Licensing Act 2003 Licenses.

2 Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle/Operators/Drivers

3. Pleasure boats

4. Gambling Act 2005 Premises

5. Sex Establishments

6. Street Trading.

The Council had the power to set its own fees for the following licences:

1. Pleasure boats

2. Gambling Act 2005 (premises licenses)

3. Sex establishments

4. Street trading

Statutory fees are set by the Government for:

1. Licensing Act 2003
2. Gambling Act 2005

Councillor Candy told the Committee that the fees should be set on a full cost recovery basis, not making a profit, but not running at a loss. 

Councillor Candy noted an error in Appendix A - Street Trading fees should be £350.

The Chair invited questions to Councillor Candy.

Councillor Folley asked if the street trading fees would fund the costs for enforcement as there was lots of street trading occurring without permission.  The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer confirmed that the fees were designed to cover cost of enforcement.  He asked members to bring to their attention details of anyone trading unlawfully and they would do their best to enforce it.

There were no further questions, the Chair invited the Committee to debate the report.

Councillor Jepson noted the fees were on a cost recovery basis and not making a profit, therefore he proposed that these were accepted.  On the proposition of Councillor Jepson, seconded by Councillor Hedgley it was 

RESOLVED 

That Licensing Committee:

Recommend to Cabinet the approval of the proposed table of fees and charges for the year 2026/27, at Appendix A, to be implemented on 1 April 2026.

The Committee received report ES/2552 of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health.  The purpose of the report was to report to the Licensing Committee the outcome of the publication of the ‘notice of intention to pass resolution’ on street trading and the designation of Consent and Prohibited streets in the East Suffolk district and to approve an East Suffolk Council Street Trading Policy.

Councillor Candy introduced the report; stating that the Licensing Committee had resolved to adopt a district wide street trading policy (known as the Policy in accordance with paragraph 2 of schedule 4 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982) to control street trading.  There had been 3 previously approved consultations, the results of which were reported back to Committee in October 2023, January 2024, October 2024 and April 2025. Views were sought on the proposals to change the policy, and which streets should be prohibited or consent streets.  If the streets were prohibited, then no street trading could occur at all, if they were consent streets, then a community event involving street trading could be permitted.  A statement should be included in the policy to make it clear that a consent street would permit community events only. The final proposed list of streets was approved in April 2025.  Since then, a notice of intention to pass resolution on street trading and the designation of consent and prohibited streets was published in local newspapers in August 2025.  There were no public representations received; therefore, the Committee was being asked to approve the Policy for immediate adoption. There would be a consent fee of £350, which would be for one street for one year.

The Chair invited questions from the Committee.

Councillor Robinson noticed a discrepancy in the recommendation that Councillor Candy read out.  Councillor Candy read out 2 May 2025 as the publication date, but the paperwork stated 1 August 2025.  The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer confirmed the correct date was 1 August 2025, acknowledging there was an error in the briefing paper prepared.

Councillor Hedgley asked about public car parks owned by East Suffolk Council, if they were prohibited from street trading, did that include ice cream vans. The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer confirmed it did include ice cream vans. He advised Councillors that if they saw one trading, they should take care of their own personal safety and report it to Licensing rather than approach the vendor directly. The Senior Licensing Officer added that any enforcement was a joint approach and may include other agencies such as Highways, Town/Parish Councils, East Suffolk Council.

The Chair moved the Committee to debate.

On the proposal of Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Plummer it was 

RESOLVED

That Committee:

1. Notes that there were no representations regarding the notice of intention to pass resolution on street trading and the designation of Consent and Prohibited streets which was published on 1 August 2025. 
2. Approves the draft Street Trading Policy for immediate adoption.

The Committee received report ES/2553 of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health.  The purpose of the report was to authorise the Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Health, to prepare and submit a response to the Call for Evidence from the Department for Business and Trade and the Home Office.

The Chair advised that having discussed this with the Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer, he felt this should come to Licensing Committee due to the timeline of the consultation.

Councillor Candy introduced the report and thanked the Licensing Manger and Housing Lead Lawyer for turning the report around so quickly to meet the deadline for Licensing Committee.

Councillor Candy told the Committee that the Council’s Licensing Committee was responsible for the Licensing Act 2003 licences, this included pubs, restaurants and clubs.  The Government has invited views and evidence to inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system. This call for evidence relates to the Government’s commitment to reduce regulatory burdens by 25% by end of this parliament. This call for evidence focuses on the on trade in relation to alcohol sales, for example, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, and on all entertainment under licensing act 2003.  As local authority ESC have been invited to respond, but individual officers, members and the public can submit their own responses.

The Chair invited questions from the Committee.

Councillor Robinson presumed this was in line with recent Government announcements regarding licensing; and there would be no real choice in it apart from taking part in the consultation.  The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer responded that the Council did not have to submit a response and this response would be on behalf of the Licensing Committee.  There may be other Council departments that would wish to also respond.  The Licensing Committee would determine whether this Committee responded.  There was nothing stopping any person submitted their response or any member of the public responding.   Councillor Robinson concluded that the Government was going to make the changes anyway, that could not be stopped, but if they were involved, they would have a say on what changes may look like, and so they should take part.

Councillor Candy agreed, there were things they wished to raise, and this would enable them to.

Councillor Thompson asked if they were to respond individually, would they respond on their own behalf and not as part of the council. The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer confirmed there would be a corporate response, but individuals could respond, named as councillor or as an individual.

Councillor Plummer was interested if there was anything that was concerning about the broadening out of what was going on, there were potential big changes.

Councillor Reeves said it appeared that it would be normal to have licensing hours to 1am for all licensed premises.

Councillor Candy said there were many things that the Government were saying was to enable growth. Examples were more slot machines, yet as a Council they had signed up for less gambling across the district, and pubs and clubs in areas they wished to protect.  She concluded they would submit responses with sensitivity.

Councillor Jepson had concerns regarding proposed changes to objections, and only those concerning licensing objectives being counted.  He agreed with Councillor Plummer, there were potential risks with shortcuts and reducing the opportunities for individuals to highlight problems.

Councillor Candy noted everyone’s concerns and felt it was necessary to send a response on behalf of the district covering all members’ views.  The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer asked members to send in any views regarding any of the consultation questions to himself or Councillors Reeves and Candy.  The response would be sent to Councillor Reeves and Candy before it was submitted.

On the proposition of Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Folley it was

RESOLVED

That Licensing Committee:

Authorises the Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Health and the Chair of the Licensing Committee to submit a response to the Call for Evidence, reforming the licensing system

The Committee received report ES/2551 of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health, which provided an overview of the issued licences and work of the Licensing Sub-Committee during the period July to September 2025.  The repost was introduced by Councillor Candy and was taken as read.

There were no questions on the report.

On the proposition of Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Plummer it was 

RESOLVED

That Committee:

Notes the overview of some of the work of the Licensing Team and the Licensing Sub-Committees during the third quarter of 2025.