Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

The Cabinet Member for Cyber and Security introduced the report.  He outlined that Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 required the Council to review, determine and publish its Licensing Act 2003 Policy Statement every five years.  The current policy statement was last adopted by Council in December 2015.

The Cabinet Member reminded Members that the policy covered licensing requirements for the sale of retail alcohol, the supply of alcohol by clubs, the provision of late night entertainment and late night refreshments and further stated that the council was obligated to promote its four licencing objectives. He advised there were no significant changes to the policy, but pointed out that a more proactive stance was recommended going forward.   Most of the changes were as a result of national changes in policy and all the revisions were outlined in the report.

A review of the current policy statement had been undertaken as well as the consultation process and council were asked to adopt the revised licensing statement.

A Member had a point of clarification regarding the number of temporary events notices that a premises could apply for, which the Licensing Officer duly explained and clarified.  The point in question related to statutory legislation and the member asked that this matter be raised with government.  The issue would be further looked at by the Licensing Team.  A Member suggested raising concerns with the Institute of Licensing and the Local Government Association’s Safer Community Board to try and get national lobbying to central government.

One Member wished to place on record his thanks to the Licensing Officers for the hard work they had put in to getting this policy reviewed, as keeping it compliant with the law was a very important part of the work of the council.  He also expressed his disappointment that the Licensing Committee were the only ones to have responded to the consultation process, when it had been shared and was on the council’s website.  However he praised it as a good policy for the council.

RESOLVED THAT

the revised licensing policy statement be adopted.

Report of the Cabinet Member Cyber and Safety

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The consultation feedback and officer comments be noted;

2.    The revised licensing policy statement at Appendix 2 be approved;

3.    Council be recommended to adopt the revised licensing policy statement.

The Cabinet Member Cyber and Safety presented the report, noting that the Licensing Act 2003 requires a five-yearly review of policy statement, and was last reviewed in 2015. The current policy had been reviewed by licensing officers, and the policy statement itself was attached at Appendix 2, while the responses from Licensing Committee and officer responses to this were published in Appendix 4. He explained that there were no significant changes due to a lack of significant changes in legislation during that time. The report was due to go to Council on 7^th December for approval there too.

The Leader moved to a vote, where it was unanimously:

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The consultation feedback and officer comments be noted;
2. The revised licensing policy statement at Appendix 2 be approved;
3. Council be recommended to adopt of the revised licensing policy statement.