Apologies were received from Councillor Ken Jones.

The Vice-Chair welcomed Councillor Gareth Watson to his first meeting of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgement of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

None.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 12 November 2019 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee held on Tuesday 12 November 2019 to be agreed as a correct for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 12 November 2019 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the General Licensing Sub-Committee Panel held on Tuesday 12 November 2019 to be agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 3 December 2019 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the General Licensing Sub-Committee Panel held on Tuesday 3 December 2019 to be agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 10 December 2019 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the General Licensing Sub-Committee Panel held on Tuesday 10 December 2019 to be agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Monday 28 October 2019 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the Licensing Panel held on Monday 28 October 2019 to be agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 3 December 2019 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the Licensing Panel held on Tuesday 3 December 2019 to be agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

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.

At the end of the meeting the Head of Licensing explained to Members that this would be his last meeting as he was due to leave the authority.

The Committee thanked the Head of Licensing for all the work that he had done over the past two years and wished him all the best in his future endeavours.