West London Council Blocks Public from Licensing Reviews for Over a Year
A West London council has taken the highly unusual step of banning the press and the public from attending multiple licensing review hearings, a move that appears to contradict standard democratic practices. Hillingdon Council held a private licensing review on January 16, 2026, concerning Greenland, a convenience store on Joel Street in Northwood Hills, related to a trading standards violation.
Legal Grounds and Precedents
The council cited aspects of the Local Government Act 1972, arguing that the meeting contained information relating to an individual's identity or actions connected to crime prevention. However, this justification is rarely used to hold licensing meetings in private elsewhere. In January 2025, Hillingdon Council similarly conducted a private licensing review, which was challenged by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) but remained closed to the public.
After that meeting, the council disclosed unredacted documents revealing that Khaneja Food & Booze on Uxbridge High Street had its license suspended for selling an e-cigarette to a child, illicit tobacco, and lacking proper licenses, CCTV, and staff training logs. This disclosure raises questions about the initial decision to exclude the press and public.
Contrast with Other Councils
In contrast, other councils in London have maintained open licensing hearings. For instance, the LDRS extensively covered a public hearing at Westminster City Council in December 2024 after an alleged rape at a nightclub. Similarly, Ealing Council held a public licensing hearing related to an alleged stabbing at a shisha lounge in Park Royal, all while under police investigation.
All LDRS reporters are trained in media law, including contempt of court and defamation, ensuring responsible coverage. This highlights that standard licensing meetings often involve sensitive information but are typically conducted publicly.
Broader Transparency Issues
This situation occurs as Hillingdon Council faces scrutiny over other private decisions, such as writing off a former Tory councillor's debt in a closed session, citing commercial and data protection reasons. These actions seem at odds with an open democratic system, where the public can usually attend courtrooms and report on proceedings.
While the council published minutes of the Greenland meeting, they provided only a procedural record, with minimal details. The conditions imposed included a two-month license suspension, new CCTV requirements, a ban on purchasing from unannounced sellers, and requirements to keep alcohol purchase invoices—standard measures for licensing violations.
Public Interest Test
The minutes stated that the decision to exclude the press and public was based on a public interest test, where retaining information was deemed more important than disclosure. However, given that the conditions enforced relate to public safety and consumer protection, it remains unclear how obscuring the decision-making process serves the public interest.
The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 specify that hearings should be public unless there is a public interest reason to hold them privately. Hillingdon Council has not clarified how this applies in these cases, and no response was received by the time of publication when asked for comment.
