Agenda and draft minutes

In the absence of Councillor Oliver, Councillor Murphy as Vice Chairman took the Chair for this meeting of the Licensing Committee. 

To confirm and sign the public minutes of the previous meeting held 26 August 2025.

The public minutes of the meeting held 25 August 2025 were agreed and signed.

To update Members on the outcome of the public consultation for the draft policy document and for Members to consider the results of the consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy for the period of 2026 – 2031.

Members considered the Draft Statement of Licensing Policy presented by Michelle Bishop.

Members commented as follows:

·         Councillor Hoy queried that under the heading Cumulative Impact, paragraph 7.1 inferred that a Licensing Sub Committee could implement a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), but she thought this was done by Cabinet. Michelle Bishop clarified it would be for the full Licensing Committee to agree and then forward to Council to be ratified. CIZs are now a standalone matter and are no longer included in the Statement of Licensing Policy (SLP) but Fenland does not currently have a CIZ in place. She added that the timeframe has been amended whereby a CIZ lasts for three years but the SLP runs for five years. Meanwhile, she will ensure paragraph 7.1 is corrected to read Licensing Committee. Councillor Hoy added that she believes nothing has changed in Wisbech since there was a CIZ. There have always been problems with street drinking and a CIZ made no difference despite being well meaning.

·         Councillor Hoy referred to the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme mentioned at 6.14 ‘Women’s Safety and Wider Vulnerability’. The message is good, but FDC needs to be careful not to imply it applies only to women and girls when their website says it applies to everyone.

·         Councillor Nawaz also referred to section 6.14 and said that aggressive verbal abuse can be frightening for women and girls, particularly late at night when the pubs empty, and he has known instances where such abuse has escalated to physical violence. He wondered if the policy could be amended to include reference to this to provide a bit more comfort. Michelle Bishop agreed to look at it although the report is not intended to go into finer detail of behaviours but to inform of the overarching strategy being developed.

Proposed by Councillor Meekins, seconded by Councillor Woollard and AGREED to approve the draft amendments and recommend the final Statement of Licensing Policy for the period 2026-31 to Full Council for approval.

Members to approve the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for the period of 2026 – 2031 and submit their recommendations to Full Council.

Members considered the Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for the period 2026-31.

Councillor Hoy commented that she is pleased to see the introduction of a reduced licence fee for electric/hybrid vehicles, this is a positive step rather than trying to force people to do something and then potentially put them out of business.

Proposed by Councillor Hicks, seconded by Councillor Humphrey and AGREED to recommend to Full Council that the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy be approved for the period 2026-31. 

To confirm and sign the confidential minutes of the previous meeting held 26 August 2025.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held 25 August 2025 were approved and signed.