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Present:
Councillors | Blackburn | Mrs Delves | Hardy | Mrs Smith | | Mrs Cresswell | Mrs Greenhalgh | Hutchinson | Mrs Taylor JP |
In Attendance:
Mrs S Davies, Prinicipal Solicitor- Licensing
Mr L Beattie, Mrs C Snowden and Mrs E Wood, Business Services
Apologies:
Councillors Brown and Carr
1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
The Committee considered the appointment of a Chairman for Municipal Year 2006/07
Resolved:
That Councillor Hardy be appointed Chairman for Muncipal Year 2006/07. 2. APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
The Committee considered the appointment of a Vice-Chairman for Municipal Year 2006/07.
Resolved:
That Councillor Mrs Greenhalgh be appointed Vice-Chairman for Muncipal Year 2006/07. 3. MINUTES
Resolved:
That the minutes of the meeting held on the 2nd March be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the minutes being amended to include Cllr Mrs Taylor on the list of attendees. 4. PRESENTATION ON THE GAMBLING ACT 2005
The Committee received a presentation on the impact of the Gambling Act 2005 both on the work of the Committee and on the wider community from Mrs S Davies, Principal Solicitor-Licensing. The responsbility for the licensing of Casinos, Bingo Halls and Betting Office would to move to Local Authorities, with the 31st January 2007 being first date authorities could accept applications and the new Act coming in to force on the 1st September 2007.
The Act would place on Local Authorities a requirement to judge applications against three Licensing objectives; Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime; Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way and Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
The Committee noted that operator's licences for gaming would be granted by a National Body, the Gambling Commission and that the role of the Council was to consider licences for individual premises.
Further information has been attached at Appendix 1 to these minutes, detailing the scope of the legislation and the current levels of relevant premises in Blackpool.
Resolved:
That the presentation be noted. 5. DRAFT STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY UNDER THE GAMBLING ACT 2005
The Committee considered a draft statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005. The policy had been prepared taking into the final version of the guidance published by the Gambling Commission and had been amended from the version presented to the Committee at its meeting on the 2nd March 2006.
The policy would form the basis of consultation subject to any additional guidance being published and would return to the Committee in October after consultation with relevant parties.
Resolved:
To recommend the Executive to recommend that the Council approve the Draft Statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act for public consultation. 6. LICENSING QUARTERLY UPDATE
The Committee considered the quarterly update for the period March to May 2006, on licences applied for, dealt with and appealed.In the period March to May, the Licensing section dealt with a total of 38 applications for new premises licences, 26 variation applications, 51 transfers of premises licences, 86 variations of designated premises supervisors and 28 temporary event notices, as well as 126 personal licence applications. In the same period, the Council had scheduled a total of 40 hearings, of which 20 were cancelled due to mediation. Two appeals against licensing decisions had been received in this period, one by the police appealing the grant of a personal licence, the second appeal is against the revocation of a premises licence following review proceedings
It was also noted that the Council had recently issued a licence for 24 hour off sales to Tesco Express, Whitegate Drive subject to conditions after mediation, this was the third such licence issued.
Resolved:
To note the update on licences considered, dealt with and appealed. 7. FORMATION OF A PUBLIC PROTECTION SUB-COMMITTEE
The Committee considered re-appointing a Public Protection Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee would be politically-balanced and deal with the functions set out in Part Three of the Council's Constitution. It was proposed that the Public Protection Sub-Committee be reconvened with 7 members in the proportion (4 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat)
Resolved;
1. That the Committee agree to the constitution of a politically balanced Public Protection Sub Committee with a membership of 7 (4 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat) and Group Leaders be requested to notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services as to their nominations to this Sub-Committee at the earliest opportunity.
2. That the functions assigned to the Public Protection Sub-Committee continue to be those as set out in Part 3 of the Council's Constitution.
The meeting ended at 10.45 a.m.
Any queries regarding these Minutes, please contact:
Liz Wood, Democratic Services Assistant
Tel: (01253) 477141, or alternatively, E-mail: liz.wood@blackpool.gov.uk
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