Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Administration regarding the implications for the District Council of the Licensing Act 2003.

  Agreed to employ two additional members of staff in the Licensing Section of the Central Services Administration Section for a temporary period of 2 years and to undertake a review in the 2^nd year of operation and noted that the potential financial impact in 2004/05 will form an unavoidable MTP bid in this year’s review of the programme.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 in terms of liquor licensing and the consequential implications for the District Council.

Members were informed that on a date yet to be announced in 2004 the Act would abolish several existing licensing regimes currently administered by the Licensing Justices and District Councils, replacing them with three new licences to be issued by District Councils.  Despite the absence of detailed guidance and while a series of Statutory Instruments were awaited, Members were advised that in order to undertake the new responsibilities it was anticipated that two additional members of staff would be required in the Licensing Section of the Central Services Directorate.  In view of the timeframe and the need to recruit and train the two Members of staff, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that an additional two members of staff be recruited to the Licensing Section of the Central Services Directorate on fixed term, temporary 2 year contracts and that a review of the new licensing system be undertaken in the second year of operation to ascertain the support required to maintain the levels of service required; and

  (b)that the potential financial impact in 2004/05 and thereafter which will form an unavoidable MTP bid in the current year’s review of the programme be noted.