To confirm and sign as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2023 (Appendix ‘A’) and those of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 12 September 2023 (Appendix ‘B’).

The Minutes of the meetings held on 12 and 26 September 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Furey.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable and non-registrable interests in items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee was asked to approve the fees and charges, set by statute, under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members noted that as the Government had not changed the fees since their introduction, the current estimated deficit was £25,100.  Officers confirmed that the ability to set fees locally had not been progressed despite representations to central government. 

The exception was that some councils, including Runnymede, had introduced pre-application fees.  A charging structure was previously approved by the Licensing Committee at its meeting in September 2023.  Officers were asked to add the pre-application fees in the budget book and spreadsheet.

Resolved that –

The proposed fees and charges for 2024/2025 be approved, to be effective from the dates within the appendix or as soon as practical thereafter.

There were no exempt or confidential items on the agenda.