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.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 3^rd June 2015 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 3^rd June 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To determine the process for reviewing the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005.

The Committee considered a report on the review of the Statement of Policy under the Gambling Act 2005.

Mrs Davies, Head of Licensing Service, provided a brief update to the Committee. She explained that the Council’s current Statement of Policy under the Gambling Act would expire on the 31^st January 2016 and the Council needed to have a new policy approved and published on its website at least four weeks in advance of the current one expiring. She further outlined that the Gambling Commission was producing new guidance on policies on Gambling and it was intended that once this was produced there would be a full revision of the Statement of Policy. This would take place during 2016 but it was necessary to approve an updated version of the current policy as an interim measure.

Resolved:

1.      To agree the procedure for reviewing the Statement of Policy and Principles under the Gambling Act 2005, including that a full review of the policy will take place once amended guidance is available.

2.      To agree a period of consultation on the updated policy.

To consider the interim report of the Night Time Economy Working Group.

The Committee considered the final report of the Night Time Economy Working Group. The group had been created following the hearing of the Licensing Committee into the Early Morning Restriction Order. The group had outlined 7 recommendations follows:

Recommendation 1

The Licensing Committee considers amendments to its Statement of Licensing Policy to establish Queen Street and the surrounding area as the late night entertainment area and St John’s, Church Street and Victoria Street as the area where applications for café/restaurant and other family orientated applications are encouraged.

Recommendation 2

The Licensing Committee endorses the creation of an accreditation scheme for licensed premises in Blackpool which will reward good operators and encourage improvement in others. Such a scheme will be bespoke for the needs of Blackpool based on the compliance manual that has been recently updated.

Recommendation 3

The Licensing Committee considers the need for the town centre saturation area following the creation of the zones.

Recommendation 4

The Licensing Committee considers giving formal support to the creation of a Public Space Protection Order in the town centre based on the results of the perception survey.

Recommendation 5

The Licensing Committee considers in more detail whether a late night levy is a suitable option for Blackpool.

Recommendation 6

Funding options should be explored to permit the manning of the CCTV system to be re-instated.

Recommendation 7

Options for providing a uniformed presence in the town centre should be explored.

The final recommendation of the group was that The Night Time Economy Working Group should continue to oversee and co-ordinate town centre related projects and the Committee noted that this would form a key role in coordinating the implementation of the other recommendations.

Mr Towers, Director of Governance and Regulatory Manager, emphasised that in terms of recommendation s 3 and 5 that these would involve further research and presentations to future Licensing Committee meetings.

Resolved:

To agree the recommendations outlined in the final report of the Night Time Economy Working Group.

To update the Committee on the details of licences applied for, dealt with and appealed in the period 21^st May 2015 to 21^st August 2015.

The Committee received an update on the work of the Licensing Service in the period 21^st May 2015 to 21^st August 2015 from Mrs S Davies, Head of Licensing Service.

Mrs Davies outlined the applications granted administratively as no objections were received and those considered by the Licensing Panel. She also outlined the results of recent appeals considered at the Magistrates’ Court and those appeals which had been submitted but were pending a hearing at court.

Resolved:

To note the update on licences considered, dealt with and appealed.