Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record of the Minutes of the meetings held on 17th October 2018, 15th May 2019 and 17th June 2020. (Minutes of 17^th June 2020 - TO FOLLOW).

The Minutes of the meetings held on 17th October 2018, 15th May 2019 and 17th June 2020 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda Item.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report seeking approval of a draft Statement of Licensing Policy for public consultation.

Consideration was given to a report by the Acting Operations Manager (Business) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft Statement of Licensing Policy for the Authority. The Statement sets out how the Council will exercise its statutory duties relating to its licensing function.

Members were advised that the Council’s existing Statement of Policy expires in January 2021 and the Council was required to determine the policy for the next five years to 2026. The proposed new Policy had been re-drafted to take into account relevant legislative changes and statutory guidance.

Having noted that before determining or revising its Statement of Policy the Council must undertake a public consultation with a number of specified bodies, the Committee were informed that a consultation would be undertaken between 29th June to 8th September 2020 for this purpose. The results of which, together with proposals for the final Policy would be brought back to the Committee before it was presented to the Council in October 2020 for formal adoption.

Having had their attention drawn to the proposed changes to the current Statement of Policy, Members were advised that whilst it was intended that the new Statement would last for a period of five years it was possible that given the current situation with Covid-19 a review may be needed before the expiry of this time period.

In reviewing the proposed draft, Members suggested that further clarification was required to the fourth bullet point in section 9.3 – the protection of children from harm, to read ‘where the premises has a known association with drug taking or dealing’. Members also welcomed the introduction of the new responsibilities relating to Alcohol Deliveries and Staff Training in Sections 22 and 23 of the draft Statement of Policy. In terms of matters which had been removed, it was explained that only one section had been deleted which related to the references to Public Health as a Responsible Authority.

Comments were also made regarding the timetable for the consultation particularly during the current circumstances as the Country was emerging from lockdown. In response to which the Committee were advised that many of the responses would be submitted online, hence the current timetable remained realistic. However, should it prove necessary to extend this period there was some contingencies built into the timetable which could accommodate this.

Having been reminded that they would be a further opportunity to review and provide detailed feedback on the draft Statement during the consultation period, it was

RESOLVED

that the draft Statement of Licensing Policy be approved for public consultation commencing on 29th June 2020.

To receive a summary of the meetings of the Licensing Sub Committee that have taken place since the last meeting of the Committee.

With the aid of a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee noted the details of  nine meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee which had taken place since their last meeting.