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 1 December were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

NOTED       the Licensing Committee’s Forward Plan from 1 March 2023 to 29 February 2024.

The Committee considered the report of the Business Manager – Public Protection which sought to provide Members with the current Government’s approach to the concerns raised by the post legislative review of the Licensing Act 2003. 

The report outlined the process undertaken in relation to the review of the Licensing Act 2003 and provided a summary of the key findings arising from the Government’s response to that review, where they were of particular interest to local licensing policy or procedure.  These were listed as: co-ordination between licensing and planning systems; agents of change; training; access to licensing premises for disabled people; night-tine economy; and national database for personal licence holders. 

In considering the report a Member commented that the Government’s stance in relation to access to licensed premises for disabled people was disappointing and would wished to have seen the recommendation of the House of Lords Select Committee upheld.  It was noted that the licensing regime was unable to address this issue because the relevant legislation to do so was the Equality Act 2010.

In relation to co-ordination between the licensing and planning systems a Member commented that this could be improved.  In response, Members were advised that on receipt of an application for any new Premise Licence or a variation of a Premise Licence, a copy of the application was routinely sent through to Planning Officers for comment or representation.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

a)            the reported be noted; and

b)            the proposal to implement any local actions arising from it that would improve the licensing regime for residents and businesses be supported.

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to Temporary Event Notices (TENs) received between 1 October and 31 December 2022.  The appendix to the report listed all the TENs received.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to the activity and performance of the Licensing Team between 1 October to 31 December 2022.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.