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 14 September 2023 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the Forward Plan from December 2023 to November 2024.  It was noted that the item on Night Time Economy Visits was scheduled to be considered by Committee at a future meeting.  Members advised that they welcome the opportunity of visiting licensed premises within the district, alongside Council Licensing Officers and Nottinghamshire Police, as they had done in previous years.  The Environmental Health & Licensing Manager advised that he would action the request.

NOTED       the Licensing Committee’s Forward Plan from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024.

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Health & Licensing Manager which sought to provide Members with details of the review of the Statement of Licensing Policy (SoLP) following the end of the consultation period.

The report set out that the Licensing Act 2003 required the SoLP to be reviewed every five years, with the current Policy having been adopted in January 2019.  Details of the consultation undertaken were provided in the report with it being noted that only one response had been received.  The response had been submitted by the Fire Authority, the details for which were provided at Appendix 1 to the report.  It was noted that, following consideration by the Licensing Committee, the updated SoLP would be recommended to full Council on 12 December 2023 for adoption.

Members considered the report and the response received from the Fire Authority.  All Members were in agreement that the proposed amended, as detailed in the appendix to the report, be actioned with the amended SoLP being recommended to full Council on 12 December 2023 for approval and adoption.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the revision and update to the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy be approved and recommended to full Council on 12 December 2023 for adoption.

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Health & Licensing Manager which sought to provide Members with an update on the current Pubwatch Schemes operating in the district. 

The report set out that there were currently four active Schemes in the district operating in: Newark; Blidworth & Rainworth; Ollerton, Boughton & Edwinstowe; and Southwell with each group meeting on a monthly basis.  The groups discussed issues and shared information that affected their premises.  The report also set out details of the Schemelink which is a mobile phone app which enabled easier data sharing and communications for the Pubwatch members.  The Schemelink was used by Pubwatch Groups, the Police and Councils.  Details of the work undertaken by each group was provided in the report with a proposal that a number of standing agenda items be raised to provide structure to the meeting, noting that these would need to be agreed by the Chair of each of the individual groups.

In considering the report, a Member noted the Committee Chair’s desire to attend meetings of the Scheme and queried whether this would be to all active Scheme in the district.  The Chair confirmed that, subject to work commitments, it was her intention to attend as many of the active Schemes as possible. 

A Member noted that the Southwell Scheme had faced some challenges in their operation and queried what support was being given to them.  The Environmental Health & Licensing Manager advised that an Officer from the Council attended every meeting held across the district and that this included promoting the benefits of participating in the Schemes to all licensed premises.

All Members expressed a desire in attending future meetings and requested that they be sent a schedule of meetings.

A Member queried what support was given to premises when the Scheme had not been able to share information between their members.  The Environmental Health & Licensing Manager advised that the Licensing Enforcement Officers (LEO) undertook a great deal of work in the background, reiterating that they promoted the benefits of participating in the Scheme and would share information with licensed premises between meetings.  He added that participation in the Scheme was not mandatory and could not be a condition on a Premise Licence, noting that there were some premises who did not participate in the Scheme.  In those circumstances, the LEOs strongly encouraged the premises to join, highlighting the benefits of participation.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Health & Licensing Manager which sought to provide Members with the activities and performance of the Licensing Team from 1 July to 30 September 2023.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Health & Licensing Manager which sought to provide Members with details of Temporary Event Notices (TWNs) received between 1 July and 30 September 2023.  The appendix to the report listed all the TENs received.

In considering the report, Members were encouraged to see that the number of TEN applications were increasing, which showed that people were out socialising once again following the pandemic.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.