Licensing Committee, Agenda 17 Jun 2004

Licensing Committee Agenda

Date:

Thursday 17 June 2004

Time:

7.00pm

Venue:

Council Chamber, District Council Offices, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, Bucks

Membership 2004/2005

Chairman: Cllr P Rogerson

Vice-Chairman: Cllr D G Fieldhouse

Conservative: (11) Cllrs R J Bate, W J Bendyshe-Brown, A L Dunn, D G Fieldhouse, G J Gilhooley, A R Green, Mrs W J Mallen, Mrs V A Razzaq, P Rogerson, Mrs A E Snelling and Mrs J E Teesdale

Labour: (2) Cllrs Mrs K M Draper and Mrs C C Martens

Liberal Democrat: (1) Cllr M B Oram

Independent Group: (1) Cllr J Dalton

Standing Deputies

Conservative: (3) Cllrs D A B Green, R C Pushman and Mrs K J Dix

Labour: (1) Cllr Mrs A M Stenner

Liberal Democrat: (1) Cllr B R Pollock

Independent Group: (1) Cllr D J Coe

Agenda Item

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive apologies for absence.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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 they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they leave the Council Chamber.

TOURISM AND EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

To receive reports (if any) on the tourism and employment factors affecting the District and to consider how these affect the new licensing regime.

MINUTES

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 17 February 2004 (previously circulated).

THAMES VALLEY POLICE AUTHORITY

To receive a verbal presentation from a representative of Thames Valley Police on the implications of the Licensing Act in relation to the policing of the Thames Valley area.

6	LICENSING PANELS: TIMING OF PANEL MEETINGS

Officer Contact: Huw Jones DDI: 01494 421261 E-mail: huw_jones@wycombe.gov.uk

Wards Affected: All

Proposed Decision

6.1

That the Committee agree on arrangements for the timings of Licensing Panels to determine applications under the Licensing Act 2003 in so far that the existing arrangements be retained, subject to variations as required on an ad hoc basis, with the agreement of the Chairman of the Committee. These are currently scheduled to take place on a 3-weekly basis, in the Council Chamber of Wycombe District Council with a commencement time of 2.00 p.m.

Executive Summary

6.2

The licensing regime in England and Wales is scheduled to undergo significant changes in light of the Licensing Act 2003 (The Act) receiving Royal Assent, whilst at the same time the liquor licensing function is being transferred from the Magistrates’ Courts to local authorities. The Council now needs to make arrangements to perform the new quasi judicial function by making changes in its Constitution to form ad hoc Licensing Panels.

Background Information

6.3

At the first meeting of the Licensing Committee on Tuesday 17 February 2004, some Members felt it was inconvenient to hold Panel meetings during the day-time and queried whether more flexible arrangements could be adopted, such as evening or weekend hearings. It was also acknowledged that in certain cases it might be necessary to call a Panel hearing at very short notice. With approximately 700 licensed premises in the District, it was difficult to determine how much work the Panels would need to undertake in the course of any given year. As such, officers would give further consideration to the timings of Panels. These were currently scheduled to take place on a 3-weekly basis, in the Council Chamber of Wycombe District Council with a commencement time of 2.00 p.m.

6.4	A questionnaire was submitted to Members in order to canvass their views on this topic and the results of this have been tabulated in this report (below).

Detailed Report

RESULTS OF LICENSING PANELS MEMBERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE

Yes

Possibly

Do you want to sit on a Licensing Panel?

Could you ordinarily attend a Panel Meeting at 2.00 p.m. on a weekday?

Would you prefer to meet at another time on a weekday?

Other suggested times:

Morning

Afternoon 3 / 4 pm

Evening

Would you prefer to meet over the weekend?

Either Saturday or Sunday

Saturday mornings

Sunday

Both

Resource Implications, Costs and Income

6.5	There is currently no budget to cover the increased costs of holding panel meetings at the weekends. Such arrangements would be more expensive due to increased staff and accommodation requirements. Alterations to conditions of service would also have to be negotiated with staff.

Corporate Governance, Financial and Legal Implications

6.6	It is a requirement of the Licensing Act 2003 that the Council undertake to hold Licensing Panel hearings.

Background Papers

Licensing Committee agenda and minutes of 17 February 2004 meeting.

7. UPDATE ON SECTION 182 GUIDANCE

To receive a verbal update on progress in relation to the draft strategy guidance and the draft statement of Licensing Policy and to consider the proposed consultation programme at Appendix 7.

FEEDBACK FROM LICENSING TRAINING DAY AT CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL

To receive feedback from the Licensing Training Day at Chiltern District Council on 27 May 2004. A copy of the programme is attached at Appendix 8.

SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS (IF ANY)

10.

URGENT ITEMS (IF ANY)