Terms of Reference and taskforce member list
Published 4 April 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licensing-policy-taskforce/terms-of-reference-and-taskforce-member-list
1. Purpose and Scope
The Taskforce will bring together representatives from government, industry, police and local government, including mayoral areas, to make recommendations that will deliver effective change in the licensing framework that fosters vibrant hospitality, night-time economy, and creative and cultural industries.
Businesses have indicated that aspects of the current licensing system under the Licensing Act 2003 and other legislation lack proportionality, consistency, and transparency, thus creating barriers to growth and investment for business. Businesses and Ministers would like to see a more enabling and agile approach to licensing with a greater focus on growth.
To address these challenges, the government is convening a Taskforce made up of representatives from government departments, industry, local government and policing to explore and evaluate options to create a licensing system that better supports business growth while ensuring public safety and community interests remain adequately protected under the Safer Streets Mission. This includes considering various mechanisms and the feasibility of developing updated guidance and policy direction similar to the National Planning Policy Framework, with an emphasis on quick and effective reform and implementation.
2. Membership
The wider Taskforce will include representatives from the Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and will be supported by industry representatives, alongside police and local government, including mayoral areas. The taskforce will be co-chaired by Minister Thomas (DBT) and Nick McKenzie, CEO of Greene King.
The Taskforce will use the support of existing government and industry forums, including the Hospitality Sector Council. It will also look to engage a wider range of relevant stakeholders as it develops and refines its proposals.
3. Outputs
The Taskforce will be responsible for reporting on progress and proposing options to strengthen proportionality and better support growth within the licensing framework. They should provide a written report at the end of the six weeks and aim to update publicly on its findings by the summer.
The taskforce will report to Ministers with findings and recommendations.
4. Meetings
Officials from each Department involved will meet weekly. The first meeting will involve the whole taskforce, and focus on better understanding the issues and the key asks from business representatives, working together to discuss options and implementation plans. A ministerial meeting, chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will discuss the next steps in May.
Meetings will be conducted on a confidential basis to promote full and open discussion. The only exception to this is that attendees may communicate externally the discussions which took place in meetings only to the extent that these relate strictly to the meeting notes as recorded and published by HMG. Any comments recorded in these meeting notes must not be attributed to individual attendees when discussing externally to the Taskforce meetings.
5. Supporting Structures
The Taskforce will have a dedicated team, staffed by DBT, MCHLG, HO and DCMS. The SRO is will be a DBT SCS.
6. Decision Making
The Taskforce will not hold direct accountability for decisions. The members of the Taskforce will make recommendations which will form the basis of advice to ministers.
Minister Thomas (DBT) will be the lead Minister, however the final report will be shared with ministers from the Home Office, MHCLG, HMT and DBT for review ahead of the ministerial meeting on next steps.
7. Membership
| Nick McKenzie (co-chair) | Chief Executive of Greene King |
| Jon Collins | Chief Executive of Live music Industry Venues and Events (LIVE) |
| Dr Charisse Beaumont | Chief Executive and co-founder of Black Lives in Music |
| Dr Michael Kill | Chief Executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) |
| Kate Nicholls OBE | Chief Executive of UK Hospitality |
| Scott Green | Deputy Chief Constable at West Midlands Police |
| Ruth Stanier OBE | Assistant Director of Policy at Local Government Association (LGA) |
| Carly Heath | Night Time Economy Advisor for Bristol |
| Sylvia Oates | Chief Executive of SixTillSix |
| Paul Broadhurst | Head of 24 Hour London team at Greater London Authority |
| Claire McColgan CBE | Liverpool City Region’s Associate Director of Culture |