City of Westminster

Special Treatment Premises Licences

Licence summary

If you run an establishment for 'special treatments' in the City of Westminster you may require a licence for your premises issued by the Council under the provisions of Schedule II of the London Local Authorities Act 1991.

There are a number of treatments that are classified as special treatments and thus premises offering these treatments are licensable.  Westminster City Council has classified these special treatments as to their potential risk of harm to the customer special treatment practitioner.  A full list of treatments that are defined as Massage and Special Treatments for the purposes of this Act is available here.

Licences are subject to the Council's Standard Conditions or any other conditions that are deemed as appropriate.  A copy of the most up to date version of the Council's Standard Conditions for Massage and Special Treatment premises is available here.

From the 1st October 2012 the responsibility for ensureing that special treatment practitioners are sufficiently trained and/or qualified to administer special treatments on a licensed premises will be the licensees.  The council will provide a guidance document for special treatment licnesees on the minimum requirement for qualifications and/or competence and training for special treatment practitioners.  This guidance document will be available after the 20th September 2012.  There will also be a requirement to keep specific records on special treatment practitioners in the format specified by the council. 

A fee is required for each licence application.  These fees have been set by the authority to cover its costs in administering, processing and enforcing this licensing regime.  The fees list contains the current fee payable for each application type.  Please note that the fees for online new, renewal and variation applications are slightly less than postal applications.

Exemptions - Some bodies or health practitioners are exempted under the London Local Authorities Act 1991/2000.  The list of Bodies and Health Practitioners that are exempt is available here.

Eligibility Criteria

The Licensing Authority may refuse to grant, renew or transfer a licence on any of the following grounds:—

  • the premises are not structurally suitable for the purpose;
  • there is a likelihood of nuisance being caused by reason of the conduct, management or situation of the premises or the character of the relevant locality or the use to which any premises in the vicinity are put;
  • the persons concerned or intended to be concerned in the conduct or management of the premises used for special treatment could be reasonably regarded as not being fit and proper persons to hold such a licence;
  • the persons giving the special treatment are not suitably qualified;
  • the premises have been or are being improperly conducted;
  • the premises are not provided with satisfactory means of lighting, sanitation and ventilation;
  • the means of heating the premises are not safe;
  • proper precautions against fire on the premises are not being taken;
  • they are not satisfied as to the safety of equipment used in the special treatment or as to the manner in which the treatment is to be given;
  • they are not satisfied as to the safety of the special treatment to be given;
  • satisfactory means of escape in case of fire and suitable means for fighting fire are not provided on the premises;
  • the applicant has, within the period of five years immediately preceding the application to the borough council, been convicted of an offence under this Part of this Act; or
  • the applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of subsection (4) or (6) of section 7 of the Act.
Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence is available here.  The Council has established its requirements for new, renewal, transfer and variation applications.  The Council's Rules of Procedure is available here.

Application Evaluation Process

Applications must be in writing (including by electronic means) and contain any information the Licensing Authority requires as specified in the Rules of Procedure as well as the applicant's name, address and, where the applicant is an individual, their age, plus the address of the premises.

The Local Authority will consult the Council's Environmental Health and District Surveyors, London Fire Authority and Metropolitan Police Service.  The authority will take into account any representations made by these departments or authorities when determining your application.

If your application is unopposed or agreement is reached between a consultation authority and applicant over conditions or works then the licence will be granted.  If the application is opposed or conditions are not agreed the application will be put before the Licensing Sub-Committee to determine the application.  Information relating to the hearing will be sent to the applicant prior to the hearing date. 

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No.  It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Licensing Authority within a reasonable period, please contact us. If you have applied online you can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service. If you have applied in writing or need wish to contact the Licensing Authority via another method please telephone the Licensing hotline on 020 7641 8549 or email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

Apply Online

You can apply for a new Special Treatment Premises Licence or renew and existing licence by clicking on the relevant link below. 

Unlike paper based applications you are not required to serve copies of your application on the Police or Fire Authority. 

NOTE: Please note that when you click on one of the above 'Apply' links you will be redirected to the governments Business Link website.  If you don't have a Government Gateway account you will need to create one before you can proceed to completing and submitting this application.  You will be directed to register with Government Gateway to receive your Gateway ID.  If you already have a Government Gateway account or have registered you will be invited to log in.  This account is necessary as it will ensure that your details are pulled through to the relevant form and will enable you to track your applications once they've been submitted.

Apply Via Post

To apply for a new licence, renew, vary, transfer or amend details of an existing licence please select and download the relevant application form below. 

Once you have completed the relevant form please send it with the required fee and other documentation to the following address:

Licensing Service, Westminster City Hall, 4th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.

If you do not apply online you are required to send a copy of your application to the following authorities;

  • Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, 4th Floor, Westminster City Hall, London SW1E 6QP.  You can contact the Police Licensing Team for further information by telephone: 020 7641 1721, Fax: 020 7641 2436 or email: policelicensingteam@westminster.gov.uk.   
  • London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, 156 Harrow Road, London W2 6NL.  You can contact the Fire Authority for further information by telephone: 020 7587 2000 or email: info@london-fire.gov.uk.

If you need further advice or information relating to the application process or forms please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7641 8549 or email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

Register

A public register is available to view at the Council's Offices during normal office hours.  To make an appointment to view the public register please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7641 8549 or alternatively email generallicensing@westminster.gov.uk.

Failed Application Redress

If your application has been refused you can, If you wish, appeal that decision to the local Magistrates' Court.  Appeals must be made within 21 days of the date you received notification of the decision in writing. Magistrates' court decisions can be appealed to the Crown Court.

Licence Holder Redress

If the authority has refused to renew your application, removed a special treatment, imposed additional conditions or revoked the licence you can appeal the decision to the local Magistrates' Court.  Appeals must be made within 21 days of the date you received notification of the decision in writing. Magistrates' court decisions can be appealed to the Crown Court.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

The council operates a complaints procedure.  To view the complaints procedure or to make a complaint relating to the service you have received please click here.

Other Redress

If there is a concern about noise, pollution, etc please contact Westminster City Council's Environmental Action Line on 020 7641 2000 (24 hrs) or email environmentalactionline@westminster.gov.uk.  Also should any person has a complaint relating to a registered premises or suspect a premises is operating without the required registration please contact the Council's Licensing Inspectors on 020 7641 3385 or email premiseslicensinginspectorate@westminster.gov.uk.

Trade Associations

British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC)

Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)

British Association of Skin Camouflage

Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP)

 

Eugo Partnership Logo

 

 

 

 

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