Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

Councillor G Coleman declared a personal interest in respect of Item 5, Review of Licensing Policy, the nature of the interest being that he held a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 12^th December 2014 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the last meeting held on the 12^th December 2014 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Following the annual meeting of the Council, to consider whether the Committee wishes to form a Public Protection Sub-Committee.

The Committee considered the formation of Public Protection Sub-Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

Resolved:

1.      To agree to the constitution of a politically balanced Public Protection Sub-Committee with a membership of 7 (5 Labour and 2 Conservative).

2.      To note the membership of the proposed Sub-Committee as informed by the Group Leaders as follows: Councillors Hutton, Mitchell, Owen, Singleton, L Taylor, Cox and Robertson BEM.

3.      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.

4.      To appoint Councillor Hutton as the Chairman and Councillor Luke Taylor as Vice-Chairman of the Public Protection Sub-Committee.

To consider the attached report on the Review of the Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Committee considered the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy.

Mrs Davies provided an update for the Committee and reminded the Committee that it had approved a period of consultation in December 2014 on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy.  She further advised that the consultation had generated responses from the Director of Public Health, LR Law on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary and the Licensing Authority and The Property Partnership. The proposed amendments detailed in the consultation responses had been incorporated into the Revised Draft Statement of Licensing Policy apart from where proposed changes would require additional consultation.

The Committee agreed a number of minor amendments to the Statement of Licensing Policy to correct typographical errors in the document produced.

Resolved:

To approve the content of the policy, as amended, and recommend it for approval to the Executive for recommendation to Council.

To receive a report on proposals for  reviewing the Statement of Gambling Policy and Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Committee considered a report outlining reasons for reviewing the Statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 and Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

Mrs Davies explained that it was a statutory requirement to review the Council’s Statement under the Gambling Act 2005 and that the Council’s policy was due for review before the 31^st January 2016. The Committee noted that there had been recent changes made to the Licence conditions and Codes of Practice issued by the Gambling Commission and it was therefore considered useful to allocate additional time to develop a policy that fully addressed local issues in Blackpool.

As regards the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, the Committee noted that the policy had been in place since 2010 and given recent high profile cases it was considered that a review was timely.  

Resolved:

1.      To note the procedure for reviewing the Statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005.

2.      To approve the review of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

To receive an update on the work of the Licensing Service.

The Committee received an update on licences applied for, dealt with and appealed in the period 1^st January to 20^th May 2015.

Resolved:

To note the update.

To receive an update on the work of the multi-agency Licensing Enforcement Team.

The Committee received an update Mr Mark Marshall, Licensing/Health and Safety Enforcement Manager.

Mr Marshall presented Members with an overview of enforcement activities that had been undertaken and actions taken to ensure compliance.

He highlighted the role of the Enforcement Team in delivering education to licence holders through Public Health funded initiatives. He also updated the Committee on enforcement through applications from the Review of Premises Licences and objections to Temporary Event Notices.

The Committee also received information on the co-location of Licensing Enforcement officers within the Tower building to improve out of hours response.

Resolved:

That the update on enforcement be noted.