Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest

To confirm as correct records the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on the 18 February 2026 and 20 May 2026.

The Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 18 February 2026 and the 20 May 2026 were agreed as correct records and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Democratic and Elections Team were liaising with the Chair and the licensing team regarding the revised date for the Licensing Acts Committee meeting. This would be confirmed in due course

The Democratic and Elections Team were in the process of arranging training for licensing committee members, which was mandatory for all members to attend to be able to sit on a sub-committee. The date and arrangements would be confirmed in due course.

There were no items of urgent business

Report of Health Protection, Compliance and Licensing Manager

Purpose of report

To present to General Licensing Committee a draft Mobile Homes Policy to be agreed for approval, the policy includes legislative updates and is a more comprehensive policy than the current policy from 2015. The new draft policy is included in Appendix 1.

Recommendations

The General Licensing Committee resolves:

1.1     To approve the new draft Mobile Homes Policy to become Cherwell District Council’s policy effective from the 1 November 2026. 

Resolved

(1)        That the draft Mobile Homes Policy be approved as the new policy to take  effect from 1 November 2026.

The Health Protection, Compliance and Licensing Manager submitted a report to seek approval from the General Licensing Committee for the updated Mobile Homes Policy for adoption from the 1 November 2026.

In introducing the report, the Health Protection, Compliance and Licensing Manager advised that the previous policy was last updated in 2015 and had largely focussed on fees. New legislation had subsequently been introduced that meant the Policy needed to be updated to reflect these changes.

In response to a question regarding the implementation of the new requirements regarding fit and proper persons, the Committee was advised that of the nineteen sites in total in the district, nine were licensed park home sites that required a fit and proper person to be registered. The Committee was assured that the process was under way to ensure that relevant individuals were on the Council’s online register.

Resolved

(1)        That the draft Mobile Homes Policy be approved as the new policy to take effect from 1 November 2026.

Report of Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety

Purpose of report

The Contaminated Land Strategy has been reviewed and updated. As per the Council’s Constitution the General Licensing Committee is responsible for approving and adopting policies on contaminated land.

Recommendations

The General Licensing Committee resolves:

1.1     To approve the reviewed and updated Contaminated Land Strategy at Appendix 1.

Resolved

(1)        That the reviewed and updated Contaminated Land Strategy be approved.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report to seek approval from the General Licensing Committee for the reviewed and updated Contaminated Land Strategy.

In presenting the report, the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Manager advised the Committee that the Strategy had been updated to reflect legislative changes that had been introduced since it was last reviewed. The revised Strategy included updates to the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies with regards to contamination.

Resolved

(1)        That the reviewed and updated Contaminated Land Strategy be approved.