Councillor Mary Clarkson was confirmed as Chair.

None.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety has submitted a report to seek agreement and recommendation to Council of the updated Statement of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessment.

Recommendation: That the Licensing & Gambling Acts Committee considers the updated Statement of Licensing Policy, the Cumulative Impact Assessment and the responses received to the public consultations and resolves to:

1.    Agree and recommend the updated Statement of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessment to Council for adoption.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety had submitted a report to seek agreement and recommendation to Council of the updated Statement of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessment.

The Senior Licensing Compliance Officer presented the report and appendices. He highlighted that the Council had a duty to determine and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy and keep it under review and republish it at least every five years. He added that the Statement of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) were subject to a six week public consultation from 15 November 2021 to 27 December 2021, during which time twelve responses were received. A list of proposed amendments to the Statement of Licensing Policy following consultation was included at Appendix 2 of the report.

In relation to the CIA the Senior Licensing Compliance Officer advised that, after careful consideration of relevant evidence and data, it was deemed appropriate and necessary to reintroduce Special Saturation Policies in order for the Council to continue to promote the licensing objectives.

Councillor Colin Cook joined the meeting.

In response to a question related to the mechanisms for controlling cumulative impact – specifically the power of the Police, local businesses or residents to seek a review of a licence or certificate, the Senior Licensing Compliance Officer confirmed that the Council did not receive many requests for reviews. He added that a review had to be evidence-based, including a recorded history related to the licensing objectives. The procedure for calling for a review and the relevant forms were available on the Council’s website.

The Senior Licensing Compliance Officer said that a review of a licence or certificate was usually the last resort as the Council normally sought to engage with licence holders to solve any issues. He advised that the Licensing Authority or Police could request minor variations to licences, including additional conditions. The Senior Licensing Compliance Officer confirmed that reviews were subject to a 28 day consultation period, followed by a report to the Licensing & Gambling Acts Casework Sub-Committee for determination.

The Committee requested the following minor amendments to the Statement of Licensing Policy contained at Appendix 1:

·       Paragraph 7.5.24 – addition of reference to sourcing ‘environmentally sustainable materials where possible’ in relation to alternative drinking vessels.

·       Paragraph 7.9.8 – strengthen language to ‘the licence holder is encouraged to include provisions for disabled people’. It was noted that legislation did not empower authorities to make the provision of disabled facilities a requirement.

·       Paragraph 8.10.3 – include reference to ‘Ask for Angela’ in the drink spiking section as well (paragraph 8.9.5).

·       Paragraph 7.3.13 – strengthen language to ‘encouraged to include gender-neutral facilities’. 

The Committee resolved to:

·       Agree and recommend the updated Statement of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessment to Council for adoption, subject to the amendments listed above.

Recommendation: That the minutes of the meeting held on 07 February 2022 be APPROVED as a true and accurate record.

The Committee agreed to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 07 February 2022 as a true and accurate record.

The Committee is scheduled to meet at 6.00pm on the following dates:

·         19 May 2022

·         26 September 2022

·         06 February 2023

The Committee noted the dates and times of future meetings.