Agenda and minutes

Councillor T Wendels declared an interest in Agenda Item No. 4 – Presentation by Inspector Charlotte Ellam - as a colleague of Inspector Ellam at the Nottinghamshire Police Authority.

The Chair 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 2 March 2023 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the verbal presentation given by Inspector Charlotte Ellam in relation to the policing of the night-time economy in Newark Town Centre.  She outlined the operational work of Police Officers and how they were deployed.  She also outlined some of the working relationships the Police had with licensed venues, door staff, other organisations including Newark & Sherwood DC and Social Services, their involvement with the Pub Watch Scheme and provided an overview of the main areas within Nottinghamshire that required resource to Police the night-time economy.  Also detailed were some of the actions taken and work undertaken to help to promote well run licensed venues. 

In respect of anti-social behaviour (ASB), Inspector Ellam advised that issues in licensed premises had an impact in the town centre, likewise, ASB had an impact on town centre businesses as people did not feel safe in visiting the area adding that the Police’s ASB Strategy linked into how the Police operated in the night-time economy. 

Inspector Ellam advised that a current priority was that of violence against women and girls and that work was ongoing to make the town centre safe and inclusive for all.  The Safer Street Initiative also fed into this aspiration, as it would lead to improved street lighting. 

In acknowledging the presentation, a Member queried what action the Police were taking in relation to the ASB.  Inspector Ellam advised that a strategy had been developed which had several different strands, adding that it was a challenging issue to resolve.  The Police targeted individuals, who were generally aged between 13 and 14 years old.  Due to the age of the individuals, work was carried out with partner agencies e.g. social services, child protection.  It was hoped that by early intervention, the behaviour of the children could be changed, rather than criminalising them.  The Police looked at the children’s housing situation and their family life and, where possible, employed diversionary activities.  However, Inspector Ellam noted that many did not wish to engage which led to enforcement action being taken, advising that this was done in partnership with Newark & Sherwood DC.  As well as individuals, locations were also targeted in an attempt to make them less attractive for groups to congregate in.  CCTV coverage also played a part in this.  Again, Inspector Ellam reiterated that it was a complex issue and that she would welcome any new suggestions on how the issues could be tackled.

In acknowledging the comment that a Police presence offered comfort to people, Inspector Ellam stated that people needed to be made aware of where they could report incidents to and what account would be taken.  She added that she was bidding for additional town centre patrols. 

In noting the age of the children involved in ASB, a Member queried whether it was down to alcohol or boredom.  Inspector Ellam advised that anecdotal evidence suggested that on occasion there had been alcohol involved and in order to try and combat that, work was ongoing with supermarkets to make  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Councillor S Saddington left the meeting at this point.

NOTED       the Licensing Committee’s Forward Plan from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

The Statutory Guidance relating to both taxis and the Licensing Act requires that all Members that make decisions on taxi and/or licensing matters MUST have had sufficient training to enable them to fulfil that role.  The Nottinghamshire Authorities Licensing Group is providing their annual training course to which all Members of the Committee are invited.

DATE:              Wednesday, 12 July 2023

TIME:               9.30am through to approximately 4.00pm

LOCATION:      Hostess Restaurant (near to Mansfield)

NOTED       the Training for Members and Officers scheduled for Wednesday, 12 July 2023.

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Licensing Officer which sought to inform Members of the night-time Cocaethylene Awareness Campaign within Newark & Sherwood.  The report set out that the Licensing Team together with the Police & Crime Commissioner, Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire County Council had secured funding from the Home Office’s Safer Street Fund noting that an area of concern in the Night-Time Economy (NTE) was Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).  It was also reported that local authority Officers and the Police had been working together on the above-mentioned Campaign. 

The report set out that cocaethylene was a chemical produced by the body’s liver when alcohol and cocaine were taken together with paragraph 2.2 of the report setting out the possible effects of that.  Details of the Night of Action were provided with Appendix 1 providing the results of a questionnaire undertaken with the general public at that time. 

In noting the report, a Member queried why an awareness campaign had been launched on cocaethylene and whether others might come forward.  The Senior Licensing Officer advised that this one had been chosen due to the violence and rages that come with the effects of mixing the drug and alcohol, which often resulted in unprovoked attacks. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

NOTED       the Minutes of the Licensing Hearing held on 3 April 2023 in relation to an application for a Premise Licence for 18 Castle Gate, Newark.

Councillor S Saddington returned to the meeting.

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to the activity and performance of the Licensing Team between 1 January to 31 March 2023. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted. 

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Licensing Officer in relation to Temporary Event Notices (TENs) received between 1 January to 31 March 2023.  The appendix to the report listed all the TENs received. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To consider resolving that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

That, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

NOTED       (unanimously) the exempt Minutes of the Licensing Hearing held on 22 May 2023 in relation to the Review of the Premise Licence for Newark Cue Club.