Agenda and minutes

NOTED       that no Member or Officer declared any interest pursuant to any statutory requirement in any matter discussed or voted upon at the meeting.

The Chairman advised that the proceedings were being recorded by the Council and that the meeting was being livestreamed and broadcast from the Civic Suite, Castle House.

AGREED      that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2021 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

AGREED      that the Forward Plan for the period 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022 be noted.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to the work undertaken in preparation for the opening of hospitality in-line with the Government step approach to lifting lockdown.

The report provided information on what actions had been taken to support the licensed trade to ensure that they were aware of the differing rules and timings of changes.  To assist with this a clear guidance document had been produced and sent out together with a pre-opening checklist.  This same information was also published on the Council’s website and on the Schemelink platform. 

Pre-opening visits were carried out prior to outdoor hospitality reopening on 12 April 2021.  A total of 60 licensed premises were visited on 17 April to those premises offering outdoor hospitality.  This had resulted in 12 letters being sent out to premises who had breached the restrictions in place.  From that only 1 premise continued to breach the restrictions which had resulted in the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice for £1,000.  Following the reopening of indoor hospitality further visits were carried out on 21 and 29 May which resulted in 9 letters being sent out for breaches to restrictions.

In considering the report Members queried what type of issues had arisen during the 21 and 29 May visits to warrant the letters being sent out.  The Senior Licensing Officer advised that some of the issues were: allowing customer to purchase drinks at the bar rather than operating a strict table service; not enforcing the wearing of face masks, both for customers and staff; customers being permitted to wander around the premises.  She added that the premises would be visited again with the next step being the issuing of a Fixed Penalty Notice. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager – Public Protection in relation to the current policy and controls with regard to vertical drinking controls in licensed premises and whether Members considered it necessary to review the Statement of Licensing Policy.

It was noted in the report that standing whilst drinking, commonly referred to as vertical drinking, had been shown to lead to more unrest and violence compared to drinking whilst seated with the relevant licensing objective being the prevention of crime and disorder.  Paragraph 2.4 to 2.8 provided the relevant Home Office issued statutory guidance and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, Policy No. 2.  It was noted that additional support was provided by the issuing of local guidance, a copy of which was attached as Appendix 1. 

In considering the report a Member stated that the current restrictions requiring customers in licensed premises to remain seated had led to a reduction in problems associated with vertical drinking.  He acknowledged that other licensing authorities did not have a specific clause in their Statements of Licensing Policy but that should not prevent Newark & Sherwood District Council doing so.  He proposed that applicants for a premise licence be required to outline in yellow the area to be used for vertical drinking. 

In response the Business Manager advised that the aforementioned local guidance did not form part of the Statement of Licensing Policy.  He added that any amendment to the local guidance could be approved by the Licensing Committee. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the local guidance issued as part of the application process be amended to include the following:

                   Areas which are to be used for the purpose of vertical drinking to be outlined in yellow.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to the Temporary Event Notices (TENs) received between 1 January and 31 March 2021.

In noting the significant reduction in the number of TENs received, Members queried how this had affected income received.  In response, the Senior Licensing Officer and Business Manager – Public Protection advised that the income had reduced by approximately £6,000.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to the activity and performance of the Licensing Team between 1 January and 31 March 2021. 

In considering the report a Member commented that he wished to thank the Licensing Team and the wider Council for the efforts they had made throughout the Pandemic and national lockdowns, adding that he had received positive comments from constituents within his Ward.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.