Report of Executive Director (Environment and Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Environment and Place) presenting a draft revised Licensing Policy Statement for formal consultation.

Resolved:

That the draft revised Licensing Policy Statement, as set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved for formal consultation.

Reasons for Decision:

To comply with the statutory duty to publish a timely Statement of Policy in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of The Licensing Act 2003 

Other Options:

None.

Note: This is an Executive Function save that approval of the final Policy is a Council Function

Not eligible for call-in

Cabinet Member: Cllr Gilbert

The Committee received a report by the Executive Director (Environment & Place), by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny, that presented a draft revised Licensing Policy Statement, (attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted), as the basis for formal consultation and to allow the Council to follow their statutory obligation set out in the Licensing Act 2003.

The Committee discussed the report in some detail and asked a number of questions that were responded to by the Council’s Regulatory Services Manager and the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing, and the Local Plan on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Major Projects, and Regulatory Services.

The Committee was informed that the Council’s Licensing Committee would be consulted on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy but that all responses to the consultation would be a matter for Cabinet to consider before the matter is referred to full Council for approval.

The Committee made a number of suggestions that could be included within the proposed draft revised Licensing Policy Statement. In summary, these included:

·         When an application is made for a licence for any premises located in a zone where consumption of alcohol in a public place is not permitted, the applicants are advised to undertake a risk assessment and include control measures to address the promotion of the licensing objectives such as a suitably sized notice should being clearly displayed at the exit point(s) of the premises advising patrons that alcohol cannot be consumed in public place in that area;

·         References should be included to measures to address other forms of spiking;

·         Clarification that the 28 day consultation period referred to in Appendix C (Glossary of Terms) are calendar days not working days;

·         Links to the relevant websites for the various bodies, groups and associations etc. referenced in the Statement of Licensing Policy should be included where possible;

·         With reference to Minimising Waste under paragraph 12.7, consideration should be given to the development of a leaflet advising on measures to minimise waste and its impact.

Resolved:-

That, subject to the comments of the Scrutiny Committee outlined above, the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Councillor Gilbert