.

 

Licensing Committee

Date:

Thursday 19 October 2006

Time:

7:00pm – 9:10pm

PRESENT:     Councillor P Rogerson (in the Chair)

 

Councillors S J Bazley, W J Bendyshe-Brown, Mrs K M Draper, and M B Oram.

 

(Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J M Blanksby, Mrs K J Dix, D A B Green, D J Hayday, Mrs W J Mallen, Mrs C C Martens, I L McEnnis and R A Hussein)

ALSO PRESENT: Mr B Whittal - Thames Valley Police

8.      MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 15 June 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

9.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

10.    RECORD OF HEARINGS - LICENSING PANELS

RESOLVED: That the record of the Licensing Panel Hearings held on 17 May 2006, 10 July 2006, 9 August 2006 and 8 September 2006 be noted.

11.  THE GAMBLING ACT 2005 - WYCOMBE DISTRICT COUNCIL DRAFT POLICY AND RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION

The Committee received details of the consultations received in respect of the draft statement of licensing policy in respect of the Gambling Act 2005.  Consultation commenced in July 2006 and letters were sent out to approximately 250 organisations and individuals.  The consultation period had closed on 9 October 2006 and 5 responses were received and these were included in the appendix submitted.

 

The Committee noted the responses received, together with the comments of the Cabinet Member for Environment, and during a discussion on these and the draft statement of policy as a whole,  the following substantive comments were made:

·

Ensure that reference was made to the fact that helpline numbers would be made available from organisations such as GamCar.

·

Amend reference to “promoting licensing objectives” in the light of amendment requested from a consultee (paras 3.4 and 3.7).

·

Include “learning disabilities” in “vulnerable people” description.

·

Include Bucks Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Forum in Appendix C - List of Consultees.

·

Delete reference to “which operate late into the night” (1.3 para 3).

·

Include Community Plan in “relevant plans and strategies”.

·

Make reference to the point that measures, which an applicant might offer to meet licensing objectives and which were described in the draft policy, could also be used as conditions by the Licensing Authority (para 3.9).

·

Include reference to officers’ code of conduct in para 5.1.

·

Item 6 - “reviews” to be amended to read “review of premises licences”.  Insert reference to “guidance will be provided to interested parties”.

·

Table of delegations - insert introductory paragraph outlining description of decision making process.

     - Insert Panel for Sub-Committee

·

Appendix “D” - Delete.

·

Produce guidance notes for small businesses.

The Committee also made minor textual amendments and after further consideration it was

     RESOLVED: That the draft statement of licensing policy as amended by the consultations received and those referred to above and made under the Gambling Act 2005 be approved and recommended to Cabinet for agreement and subsequent approval by Council on 11 December 2006.

12.    LICENSING ACT 2003 - AN UPDATE

The Committee received an update on matters relating to the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.  It was noted that there had been 42 Panel Hearings to date and one appeal had been lodged at the Magistrates’ Court.  Two applications for a review of licence had also been held.

The Police representative, who attended the meeting, considered that there were examples of increasing cooperation between applicants and the Police, particularly with review applications.  He underlined that an application for a review of licence was one of last resort.

During further discussion an invitation was extended to any member of the Licensing Committee who might wish to join a police patrol at night to gain first hand knowledge of some of the problems associated with licensed premises and the workings of the Licensing Act.

     RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

 

______________

Chairman

 

The following officers were in attendance of the meeting:

Mr N Stannett     -     Divisional Environmental Health Officer

Mrs S Wilson     -     Principal Solicitor

Mr M Conroy     -     Democratic and Members’ Services