Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011 (the meeting on 10 November 2011 was cancelled).

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declaration of personal or personal and prejudicial interest by Members relating to items on the agenda. If any Member is uncertain as to whether an interest should be disclosed, he or she is asked if possible to contact the District Solicitor prior to the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they are declaring an interest, whether personal or personal and prejudicial, then (subject to paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct) they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they leave the meeting.

None.

Officer Contacts:    Mrs Caroline Steven Tel:  01494 - 421222 

Email: caroline_steven@wycombe.gov.uk

                                    Mrs Kiran Khanna  Tel: 01494 421264

                                    Email: kiran_khanna@wycombe.gov.uk

Executive Summary

Under the Licensing Act 2003, the local authority is responsible for determining applications made under the Act. This function is delegated to a Licensing Panel of three members. Any Member wishing to take part in Panel Hearings must have received appropriate training, ideally at least every two years.

It is proposed to devote this meeting to training, with a view to bringing as many members as possible up to date with training needs and to offer a refresher of the processes involved.

Training on 26 January will aim to give all Committee Members the opportunity to recap the aspects of the Act relating to Licensing Panel Hearings. It will enable Members to raise questions and Officers to provide guidance and assistance on key points and procedures in a training environment.

Members’ Guide and Training Notes

The Members’ Guide was re-issued in June 2010 and a copy is attached for ease of reference, together with the procedure guides for Panels and Determinations. All Members of the Committee should have a copy of WDC’s Licensing Policy (copies available on request).

A copy of the training notes prepared for the Committee’s June meeting is also attached.

Outcomes and Next Steps

It will be the aim to give every Member the training and confidence to take part in Licensing Panels.

The Licensing Team Leader and Principal Solicitor gave a training presentation, providing an overview of the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and covering in practical terms the regulations concerning applications for premises and personal licences, and the guidance to be followed at Licensing Panel Hearings.

During the course of the presentation, new regulations in the pipeline were outlined and discussed, some of which were expected to be implemented from April 2012. It was expected that more information would be available by the time of the March meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED: That Officers be thanked for the very useful and interesting training session.

The Chairman thanked all those members of the Committee who had taken part in Licensing Panels, adding that in his experience Panels were extremely interesting and he hoped that more Members would come forward to participate in them.

RESOLVED: That the schedule of Licensing Panel Hearings held since the previous meeting be received.