Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13^th May 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16th September 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

No declarations were received.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), Members’ attention was drawn to the implications of an EU Services Directive which required that a system be introduced to allow service providers located in the EU to apply for, vary and pay for licences and permits on line, by 28^th December 2009.  Members were informed that although the report had been submitted to the Licensing Committee, its implications applied equally to licences and permits within the remit of the Licensing and Protection Panel.

Members were reminded that the Licensing Act contained fixed timescales for the determination of applications, the issue of counter notices etc and required forms and certificates to be dealt with in certain prescribed ways.  As a consequence, changes would be required, and the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) had launched a brief consultation exercise on the impact of the Directive prior to making the regulations required to alter the present arrangements.

The new Directive would apply only to regulated entertainment within the context of the Licensing Act 2003 but for the purpose of consistency was also being extended by DCMS to the sale and supply of alcohol and late night refreshment.

The Committee was advised that DCMS had estimated savings for applicants to be in the region of £500,000 - £1,500,000 per annum.  However amendments to various aspects of the legislative procedure including transferring the responsibility for the notification of responsible authorities to the licensing authority was likely to marginally increase costs and increase the burden on the licensing authority.  Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

(a)   that the changes resulting from the implementation of the EU Services Directive be noted; and

(b)   that the answers to the consultation paper as set out in the annex to the report now submitted be approved.

To receive a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft Statement of Principles under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, which had been revised and updated to take into account the latest regulations and guidance issued by the Gambling Commission.

Having regard to the timetable for public consultation and the likelihood that this was unlikely to generate significant comment, it was

RESOLVED

(a)   that the Head of Democratic and Central Services be authorised, after consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee to make any amendments to the statement that are considered necessary as a result of a comments received from the public consultation exercise; and

(b)  that the Cabinet and Council be invited to approve the statement of principles under the Gambling Act 2005 to come into effect on 31^st January 2010 for a period of three years.

To appoint Councillors Priestman and Reeve to Group 3 of the Sub – Committees to replace Councillor T D Sanderson and the  late Councillor Powell.

  Group (3)  i.  Dutton, Eaton, Priestman

ii.  Dutton, Eaton, Reeve

iii.  Eaton, Reeve, Priestman

iv.  Dutton, Reeve,Priestman

RESOLVED

  that Councillors Priestman and Reeve be appointed to Group 3 of the Licensing Sub Committees to replace Councillor

    Sanderson and the late Councillor Powell as follows

Group (3)

Sub Committee

  (i)   Dutton, Eaton, Priestman

  (ii)   Dutton, Eaton, Reeve

  (iii)   Eaton, Reeve, Priestman

  (iv)   Dutton, Reeve, Priestman