Councillor voted at meeting of licensing panel after officers incorrectly believed he had been formally appointed

A London Borough of Hounslow councillor mistakenly voted at a meeting of a panel to which he did not belong, invalidating its decision.

Details: 15.Aug.2025

The BBC has reported that Labour’s Ranjit Gill voted at a licensing panel meeting before he was officially appointed to it.

This meant the decision became void and the meeting must be held again at a cost up to £500.

Cllr Gill was not appointed to the panel in May, when most selections were made, but was later nominated when changes to the political balance were needed.

Although he had not yet been appointed by full council to the panel, officers thought he had been and mistakenly included him in the meeting.

The BBC report said complaints by the Conservative opposition led to Benita Edwards, the council’s Director of Law and Governance, explaining: “I have concluded that the meeting of the licensing panel wasn't properly convened; it is as if the meeting never took place, and any decisions are effectively null and void."

A spokesperson for Hounslow told Local Government Lawyer: “In order to sit as a Member of Licensing Panel, Councillors first have to be appointed by the Council to sit as Members of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee. Most appointments were made at the Borough Council AGM on 27 May 2025.

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“Following the AGM, there was a need for some further changes to be made to the appointments and officers were aware that Cllr Gill was to be nominated to sit as a Member of L&GP Committee. In anticipation of that nomination and appointment, Cllr Gill undertook Licensing training as required.

“Due to a misunderstanding during the arrangement of the Licensing Panel on 15th July, officers incorrectly believed that Cllr Gill had already been formally appointed to the L&GP committee. On that basis, Cllr Gill was included in the meeting as if he were a Member of Licensing Panel.

“At its meeting on 22 July, Borough Council confirmed that Cllr Gill is appointed as a Member of L&GP Committee.”

Mark Smulian