Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June, 2015, copy attached as an Appendix.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2015 be approved as a correct record.

Members to declare any interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the report attached as Appendix B.

Contact Officer: Peter Seal 01296 585083

The Licensing Act 2003 required the Licensing Authority to prepare and publish a statement of its licensing policy every 5 years.  The first licensing policy was published in January 2005, the second in January 2008 and the current policy for Aylesbury Vale District Council was published in 2011.  Although it was not necessary for the policy to be reviewed until 2016, there had been significant changes in legislation and the statutory guidance to justify a review before 2016.

Members were informed that the saturation policy had been in place since 2005, due to a high density of licensed premises.  Aylesbury was organised in squares, which increased  loitering and localised points of disorder.  Currently there were no issues near Waitrose or on the outskirts of Aylesbury.  The hotspots for disorder were Kingsbury and Market Square.  The policy prevented any new high risk premises, or late night extensions, which supported police resources.  Members questioned whether the Council had considered introducing a late night levy on premises that traded beyond a certain time with the levy being used to support police resources.  It was advised, however, that the levy would have to be imposed on a Vale wide basis, so may have a negative impact on other areas.

Councillors sought further information regarding the prevention of anti-social behaviour, which was stated to be an inevitable consequence of the late night economy in Aylesbury.  There were different types of legislation that council be used to try to kerb unlawful behaviour.  No drinking zones were currently in place, which enabled police to confiscate open containers of alcohol.  These abilities had been extended through the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO), and this would allow spot fines for unlawful behaviour in the town centres.

Consultation evenings were held in both Aylesbury and Buckingham regarding the review of the Licensing Policy.  All licensees in the areas were invited.  Weatherspoons were the only licensee to attend the consultation evening in Aylesbury.  The Buckingham consultation evening was better attended, and it was thought that this was due to the proposed introduction of a restraint policy in Buckingham.  The proposed restraint policy in Buckingham was to refuse any applications beyond a 1.30am closing time.  It was noted that noise complaints in Buckingham were not limited to the immediate area surrounding a licensed property.  Buckingham University had its own penalty system for private parties that resulted in a noise or disturbance complaint.  While there was building pressure for premises with a 2am or 3am closing time in Buckingham, it was stated that a club premises existed on the university campus, and students would be likely to go to Milton Keynes for extended opening hours.

Following further consideration, it was –

RESOLVED –

(1)       That the draft 2016 Aylesbury Vale District Council Licensing Policy Statement be noted.

(2)       That the Scrutiny Committee supports the Licensing Committee, in recommending that the Council adopts the reviewed Licensing Policy Statement.

To consider the report attached as Appendix C.

Contact Officer: Jacqui Bromilow 01296 585498

The Environment and Living Scrutiny Committee received a report outlining the Council’s Food Service Plan for 2015-16.  It was noted that under European food law, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) were deemed to be the competent authority, and that local authorities had to work within a framework developed by the agency.  Part of the framework agreement included production of a food service plan.  Plans were required to contain the following information:

·         Service aims and objectives

·         Background

·         Service delivery

·         Resources

·         Quality assessment

·         Review

Members were advised that there were 1714 registered food businesses in Aylesbury Vale.  These included restaurants, and also shops, food manufacturers, child minders and egg packers.  All premises were given a risk rating from A to E, with A being a high risk classification, and E low.  This enabled resources to be focused at those premises with a high risk rating.  It was also noted that the Council had a limited ability to change how the service was delivered due to the requirements of the Food Standards Agency.

It was questioned how the risk rating for each business was decided.  The risks examined by inspectors included the number of people served, the type of food, and the processes in place.  Some food processes could be complex, but could be deemed to be a low risk due to the processes put in place by the business.  Other aspects of the business that would be examined were food hygiene concerns, the cleanliness of the property and any complaints that had been received by the Council.  The food hygiene rating score was also derived from the same scheme.  It was not compulsory for businesses to display the food hygiene rating score, and this was not something that could be required locally, as the regulations surrounding food hygiene rating decided nationally.  It was noted that businesses were required to display their ratings in Wales from October 2014, and that this was about to come into force in Northern Ireland.  The Food Standards Agency were monitoring any improvements to the standards of businesses in Wales to see if an improvement results from this.

Members were advised that all food service complaints received by the Council were investigated within three days.  Complaints were monitored on an hourly basis, and if a complaint were deemed to be high risk then it could be dealt with on the day the complaint was received.  Resources in the department were stretched.  There had been no increase in resources for three years and there had been an increase of 30 businesses during this time.  A restructure of the department had recently taken place, and this should increase resilience for the team.  It was noted that out of hours inspections would need to take place.  All visits to properties were unannounced, but it may be necessary to return to the business in order to complete the full inspection.

Some of the inspections carried out by the Council were outsourced.  The annual budget for this was a maximum of £10,000, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the matters identified at the last scrutiny committee meeting on 23 June 2015, with a view to setting the future work programme.

Future meeting dates are:-

·                     3 November 2015.

·                     8 December 2015.

·                     11 February 2016.

·                     23 March 2016.

Contact Officer:  Charlotte Gordon (01296) 585060

The Committee was provided with a work programme outlining the items that would be considered at future meetings.  During discussions, it was agreed that the following items should be included onto the work programme:-

3 November

·         Update report on the flooding on the Willows Development

·         VAHT Update

·         Aylesbury Homelessness Action Group

8 December

·         Community Safety Partnership Update

o   Anti-Social Behaviour

o   Domestic Violence

11 February

·         Five Ways to Wellbeing and Mental Health Update

·         Encouraging the use of parks and open spaces

23 March

·         Right to Buy Policy

To be timetabled

·         Update on the rivering corridor and the status of its adoption in Fairford Leys

·         Maintenance of the floor and fauna in Aylesbury Vale

·         Anti-social behaviour and the ability to launch a community trigger

RESOLVED –

That the work programme of the scrutiny committee as discussed at the meeting be agreed.