B&NES Council Licensing Policy consultation: SPC raises concerns about B&NES Council’s approach to public awareness and participation in the Licensing process

B&NES Council, the Licencing Authority, is currently consulting on Licencing Policy. The end date to respond has been extended until 5pm on 28 February. Information and how to respond can be found on B&NES Council’s ‘Revision of the Statement of Licensing Policy – public consultation‘ page.

At its February meeting, SPC resolved its response to B&NES Council’s ‘Review of Statement of Licensing Policy’ consultation, as required by the Licensing Act 2003, to support B&NES Council’s aim to ensure that the policy is comprehensive and supportive of both local and national strategies.

SPC responded to the consultation to urge B&NES Council’s Licensing Team to better engage with residents and Parish Councils about licensing consultations. Currently SPC and residents have to proactively access the Licencing Portal then use the ‘advanced search’, then select ‘Saltford’, to find out about Licencing applications in our area.

B&NES Council Ward Councillors are sent a link to the Licencing Portal each week as a reminder to access information for their Wards. B&NES Council does not similarly email 50+ Parish and Town Councils in B&NES Council’s area as has been requested previously, meaning Parish Councils can be unaware of licensing applications.

SPC is concerned that without B&NES Council reviewing its approach, it will not be able to inform residents about Licensing applications nor listen to resident concerns about licensing matters at its meetings due to its own lack of awareness.

SPC noted that responses to the above Licensing Policy consultation will be reported to the Licensing Committee later in 2025, with the matter then referred to B&NES Council’s Full Council for a decision. A full copy of SPC’s response to the consultation is below.

SPC’s full response to B&NES Council’s ‘Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

B&NES COUNCIL LICENSING CONSULTATION – REVIEW OF STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003

DISAGREE

Saltford Parish Council raises valid concerns about B&NES Council’s current approach to public awareness and participation in the Licensing process and is responding to highlight an important gap in communication. The absence of proactive measures to inform residents and Parish Councils about ongoing Licensing applications limits the opportunities for public engagement, which is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability in local decision-making, and need to be taken into account when B&NES Council reviews Licensing Policy.

Reinstating the “weekly list” of Licensing applications by Ward/area, and making it available via email subscription, would allow residents and Parish Councils to stay informed. This would not only empower them to comment on applications but also foster a greater sense of community involvement in the decision-making process, particularly regarding developments that affect the public’s daily lives, such as more establishments being able to open during the evening with the appropriate licence.

The current reliance on the Licensing Portal and the expectation that individuals and councils to proactively check it weekly creates an unnecessary barrier to participation in Licensing matters. This policy and approach needs to change. Given that other departments, such as B&NES Council’s Planning and Highways, have more accessible communication systems in place, it seems reasonable to suggest that the Licensing Team adopt a similar approach. This could help to ensure that more stakeholders have a chance to make relevant representations on Licensing applications in a timely manner.

Saltford Parish Council’s concerns, as shared with B&NES Council’s Licencing Team directly and with B&NES Association of Local Councils (ALCA), reflect a wider issue in B&NES where public engagement with Licensing matters is limited. With a clear mechanism for communication—such as a weekly emailed list of applications—more individuals and communities would be able to participate meaningfully including those for which the Licencing Consultation is considering. Without such changes, there is a risk that crucial local feedback will be overlooked, impacting the overall quality of decision-making by B&NES Council’s Licensing Team.

In conclusion, it seems essential that B&NES Council takes steps to actively raise awareness of Licensing applications and provides clear, accessible pathways for public comment. This approach would not only increase engagement but also align with broader strategies for local development and governance, ensuring that the Licensing process is inclusive and well-informed.

Should B&NES Council choose to implement this, it would likely enhance transparency and create a more informed public dialogue surrounding Licensing applications on the matters the consultation is looking to address.