We asked: We asked members of the public, businesses/organisations, and statutory consultees for their feedback on the Joint Licensing Policy consultation. The policy was due a review, which resulted in updates to legislation and expansion to various sections of the policy to provide further detail and to add more clarity.

You said: A total of 30 responses were received, with the majority (80 per cent) from individuals/members of the public.

Level of agreement to the overall policy - respondents were asked how far they agree or disagree with the proposed Licensing Policy. The majority (73 per cent) expressed agreement, more specifically 53 per cent agreeing and 20 per cent strongly agreeing.

Frequently mentioned qualitative feedback - we asked respondents to provide their comments on the proposed Licensing Policy. 13 comments were received, with some resulting in additional amendments or additions to the policy which have been reviewed by the committees.

Other comments covered topics around national statutory guidance which cannot be amended by the councils, and retail of vapes which is not regulated by the licensing policy.

The Licensing Team is liaising separately with Public Health, one of the respondents, and that work will continue separate to the policy document itself and this will result in revised guidance and data (for example, relating to health, crime and antisocial behaviour) to help inform applicants about matters that may impact on their proposed business in an area.

Support for local businesses - we want to ensure we are supporting local businesses. The consultation included a section asking businesses/organisations to provide their feedback if they felt that any part of the licensing policy makes it harder for small businesses to succeed. Eight comments were received with the most frequently mentioned item being Martyn’s Law which is a legislative requirement and therefore not something being imposed by the Councils. Any information provided by the Government or the relevant regulator (the Security Industry Authority) will be shared as this becomes available.

The results of this consultation were presented to the council’s General Licensing Committees in January 2026 who made the final decision to adopt the policy in February 2026. You can find out more by viewing the consultation report and adopted Joint Licensing Policy.

Residents of Whitchurch-on-Thames and key stakeholders for their views on the Whitchurch Conservation Area Appraisal during a 4-week consultation period, running from September until October 2025.

As part of the review process, we proposed a number of changes to the conservation area boundary as follows:

• Addition of land on Hardwick Road to include a historic avenue of trees. 
• Removal of the modern dwellings at Old Gardens.
• Corrections of the boundary to reflect property boundaries at Eastfield House, Pluto and Chiltern Edge.

In total, 19 responses were received during the public consultation period. The majority of respondents (84 per cent) are individuals / members of the public and 10 per cent (2) from a business / organisation.

Comments were generally positive about the content of the document. There were mixed comments received on the proposed boundary extension along Hardwick Road. Directly affected residents were concerned about the implications for their responsibility to maintain the trees and not keen to see the boundary extended.

However, residents of the wider village were keen to see the trees included in the designated area to ensure their ongoing protection.

Overall, it is considered there is good evidence of the historic contribution the trees make to the area. The addition of the trees to the boundary does not restrict the owners from doing necessary works, it just ensures that where works are needed these are agreed first and ensures suitable replacements for important trees can be secured if necessary.

You can view a copy of the comments received to the consultation for Whitchurch-on-Thames Conservation Area Appraisal consultation.

The feedback received to the consultation resulted in several amendments to the appraisal document which can be viewed in the Cabinet Report. The updated Whitchurch-on-Thames Appraisal document was adopted by the council democratic process in December 2025 and is available to view on the conservation pages of our website.

Residents of Watlington and key stakeholders for their views on the Watlington Conservation Area Appraisal document.

The document details a number of proposed changes to the conservation area boundary as follows: 

• Addition of open space on Britwell Road  

• Addition of 21 and 23 Britwell Road.

In total, 16 responses were received during the public consultation period, with 62 per cent from individuals / members of the public.

Overall, there was good support for the draft appraisal document. Comments were generally positive about the content of the document. There is only a small boundary review proposed, and those residents directly impacted by the proposed extension responded by questioning the level of justification.

You can view a copy of the comments received to the consultation for Watlington Conservation Area Appraisal consultation.

The feedback received to the consultation resulted in several amendments to the appraisal document which can be viewed in the Cabinet Report. The updated Watlington Appraisal document was adopted by the council democratic process in December 2025 and is available to view on the conservation pages of our website.