Hillingdon London Borough Council

The committee granted a variation to an existing licensed premises gaming machine permit for Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars, increasing category D machines from 35 to 43. The decision was taken under the Gambling Act 2005 and Hillingdon’s Statement of Gambling Principles 2025 to 2028, with no objections and the committee satisfied the applicant would comply with licensing objectives.

The sub-committee determined a premises licence application for a one-day outdoor musical event at SkyEx Community Stadium. Following withdrawal of all representations, the application was treated as unopposed and granted subject to the operating schedule and mandatory statutory conditions.

A new premises licence was applied for by A and P Mehta Limited for The Smoking Jacket at the Old Forge, Brickmansworth Road, Northwood. The application covered the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, with amended hours discussed during the hearing.

The committee was told that budget monitoring updates would no longer come to this committee, because the council had voted to move all financial items to the audit committee. This changes the scrutiny route for spend and financial control, reducing the committee's direct visibility over budgets and shifting financial oversight elsewhere.

The external auditors confirmed the 2025/26 audit opinion will be a disclaimer because the council lacks sufficient assurance from previous years, not because of the current year’s testing. The focus is therefore on rebuilding assurance through closing balances and improving the audit evidence base.

The sub-committee refused the premises licence application for the proposed Suez GAD Beats 2026 event at Harlington School Grounds. The refusal was based on insufficient detail and a failure to show how the licensing objectives would be met for a large-scale event.

The committee focused on the council’s first budget monitoring report of the year, including an overspend position, savings tracker reliability, capital roll-forwards, grant funding, and changes to fees, fines and policy linked to financial recovery. Members also debated how to strengthen scrutiny, improve reporting formats, and add training and governance around savings delivery, reserves and digital transformation.

The committee focused mainly on two statutory planning documents: the emerging Local Plan scoping consultation and the West London Waste Plan Regulation 19 consultation. Officers explained consultation methods, evidence requirements, infrastructure planning, safeguarded waste sites, and the tight December deadline for submitting the waste plan. Members also discussed the new Growth Agenda and a policy review work programme, but these were noted rather than decided in detail.

The sub-committee approved an application by Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars to vary an existing gambling machine permit, increasing category D machines from 35 to 43. The decision was made under the Gambling Act 2005 and Hillingdon’s Statement of Gambling Principles 2025 to 2028, with no objections received and the committee satisfied that the applicant’s mitigation measures supported the licensing objectives.