Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Licensing attached.

The committee considered a report which sought approval for the revised statement of Licensing Policy 2020 to undertake a period of formal consultation, with a view to the report coming back before committee on the 10 March 2020.

The Head of Licensing explained to members that the policy is reviewed every five years taking into consideration recent updates in case law and Section 182 guidance. The consultation findings and amended policy would be brought back before Committee in March for consideration, with a view to being forwarded onto full Council.

Members expressed concern that there would be a period in which the Council did not have a renewed Licensing Policy in place and asked about the impact this would have. The Head of Licensing explained that this would only impact the Council if there was a hearing called in the period where the policy had expired, however members were assured that there would be a number of options available to the Committee.

Members sought clarification on the process for checking that a premises had adequate CCTV in place. The Head of Licensing explained that visits by Officers were not routinely undertaken unless intelligence had been received to suggest a visit was needed.

Members were advised that CCTV had been a condition imposed to licences for a number of years, and there had been no problems. The Head of Licensing explained if an issue had been found Officers would discuss this with the licence holder and consider reviewing the licence if the CCTV was not fit for purpose.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

1.    The paragraph numbers contained within the Revised Licensing Policy would be re ordered to correspond with the contents page.

2.    The Committee agreed that a formal consultation exercise be undertaken in respect of the draft statement of Licensing Policy with the affected parties and stakeholders.

3.    The Committee agree to receive the outcome of the consultation exercise at a future meeting.