The quorum for this meeting is five members.  Substitutes are not permitted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cook (Chair) and Councillor Sinclair.

Councillor Clarkson took the Chair.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which provides an update on Licensing Authority activity for the period: September – December 2015.

Recommendation(s):  That the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee is resolves to:

a.    note the contents of the report; and

b.    make any comments and recommendations regarding the future work of the Licensing Function.

The Head of Community Services submitted a detailing the progress made by the Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005 during the current Council Year (September - December 2015).

The Licensing Manager presented the report.  He confirmed that enforcement activity was broadly in line with the previous year.  He told the Committee that he had restructured the licencing team and each of the officers now spent 2 days based in the office and 2 days out in the city.  This was proving to be very successful in increasing the visibility of the licensing function.

The Committee resolved to NOTE the contents of the report.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which presents a revised Statement of Licensing Policy post consultation for adoption by Council.

Recommendation:  That the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee resolves to:

a)        consider the comments received on the revised draft Licensing Policy Statement;

b)        resolve whether any amendments to the revised draft Licensing Policy Statement are necessary in the light of the comments received, and permit the Head of Law & Governance and the Head of Community Services to make any appropriate amendments; and

c)        subject to any amendments to the draft, recommend Council to adopt the revised Licensing Policy Statement at its meeting on 8 February 2016.

The Head of Community Services submitted a report presenting the revised Statement of Licensing Policy, which had been subject to a period of public consultation.

The Licensing Manager presented the report. He informed the Committee that approximately 1000 licensed premises or associations had been contacted about the consultation.  The Licensing Authority had received just 4 consultation responses and no changes had been requested.  He said that Thames Valley Police had confirmed that they wished the Special Saturation Policies to be continued without any changes to boundaries or scope.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    NOTE the comments received on the revised draft Licensing Policy Statement; and

2.    RECOMMEND COUNCIL to resolve to adopt the revised Licensing Policy Statement at its meeting on 8 February 2016.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which seeks agreement of the licence fees for 2016/17 where the Council has discretion over the level of fee charged.

Recommendation(s):  That the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee resolves to:

a)            agree the licence fees and charges for 2016/17 as set out in this report;

b)            recommend Council to adopt the agreed the licence fees and charges for 2016/17.

The Head of Community Services submitted which detailed the proposed licence fees for the 2016/17 financial year, where the Council has discretion over the level of fee charged.

The Licensing Manager presented the report.  He said that it was proposed that for the 2016/17 Council year that no variation to the current years fees and charges be made in order to provide financial stability to licence holders in the present economic climate.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    AGREE the licence fees and charges for 2016/17 as set out in the report; and

2.     RECOMMEND COUNCIL to resolve to adopt the licence fees and charges for 2016/17.

Minutes from 14 September 2015

Recommendation: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2015 be APPROVED as a true and accurate record.

The Committee resolved to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2015 as a true and accurate record subject to the following amendment: include apologies from Cllr Van Coulter.

Meetings are scheduled on:

18 May 2016

20 September 2016

24 January 2017

16 May 2017

The Committee NOTED the dates of the future meetings.