Westminster City Council is proposing to increase licensing fees by an average of 6% to 7% for the upcoming financial year, a move expected to generate an estimated £75,000. The proposed hikes are intended to cover the costs associated with administering, monitoring, and enforcing various licensing regimes.
The Licensing Committee met on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to discuss the proposed fee increases, which are set annually in line with the council's corporate approach. The report presented to the committee, available in the committee agenda, detailed fees for a wide array of licences, including those for animal welfare, sex establishments, marriage venues, sports grounds, and scrap metal dealers.
These increased fees will fund specific administrative, monitoring, and enforcement activities, reflecting the time officers spend processing applications. This includes input from licensing officers, environmental health teams, and city inspectors.
Licensing fees are determined by assessing the time officers spend on these tasks. For certain licences, like those for animal establishments, fees have seen a slight reduction due to a decrease in veterinary recharge costs, with the council only aiming to recover its expenses without generating a profit.
The council's approach to reviewing and adjusting licensing fees ensures that if the proposed fee structure results in a surplus or loss for the financial year, there will be an appropriate reduction or increase in fees for the following financial year.