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 either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

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 25 May 2021 as a true and correct record.

The Licensing Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2021.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 25 May 2021 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider approving the revised Sex Establishment Policy and recommend it to the Executive.

The Licensing Committee was asked to consider approving the revised Sex Establishment Policy and recommend it to the Executive.

Mrs Sharon Davies, Senior Solicitor, highlighted the revisions to the Policy, in particular the amendments to the standard conditions for Sexual Entertainment Venues and the reduction in the number of sex establishments. As a White Ribbon accredited authority Blackpool Council intended to reduce the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues in the town from four to zero, although the policy would allow existing operators to carry on trading under “Grandfather Rights” provided that they continued to abide by their licence conditions and the premises remained in an area that the authority considered appropriate.

A period of consultation took place between 01 February and 31 March 2021 during which time a number of comments were received. Mrs Davies advised the Committee that further responses were received after the consultation closed from the National SEV Coalition and the Northern Sex Workers Collective who indicated that they had been unaware of the consultation until after the closing date. Having considered the comments, including the late responses, it was proposed that no further changes were required to the revised Sex Establishment Policy following the consultation.

The Committee acknowledged the late responses and agreed to take them into account to allow for a full and open consultation. Having reviewed all the comments it agreed on balance to recommend the revised Sex Establishment Policy to the Executive, subject to a minor typographical error being corrected as highlighted by Members.

Resolved:

1.      That the late responses received to the consultation as attached to the agenda at Appendix 3b be taken into consideration.

2.      That the comments received within the timeframe of the consultation as attached to the agenda at Appendix 3a be taken into consideration.

3.      To recommend the revised Sex Establishment Policy to the Executive.

To update the Committee on the details of licences applied for, dealt with and appealed in the period 01 January to 31 August 2021 and to update the Committee on recent licensing enforcement activities.

The Licensing Committee received an update on the details of licences applied for, dealt with and appealed in the period 01 January to 31 August 2021 together with an update on licensing enforcement activities during that period.

Mrs Sharon Davies, Senior Solicitor, highlighted that the Licensing Service had been busy in recent months with 42 new Premises Licence applications being received in addition to a large number of applications to transfer and vary the Designated Premises Supervisor on Premises Licences. A number of Licensing Panel hearings were scheduled in the coming weeks to determine applications against which representations had been made and the Committee noted that the appeal against the decision of a Licensing Panel to vary the Premises Licences for the Lawton Hotel, Charnley Road and the Beechfield Hotel, Hornby Road had been concluded after the appellants withdrew their appeal.

Mr Lee Petrak, Licensing and Trading Standards Manager, updated Members on the work of the licensing enforcement team. Due to varying levels of Coronavirus restrictions remaining in place up until 19 July there had been limited enforcement intervention required around licensed premises in the first months of the year. Since the lifting of restrictions there had been an increase in minor noise complaints, some of which as a result of windows and doors being left open in contravention of Premises Licence conditions to aid air circulation as a Covid mitigation measure. Venues had been advised to be mindful of the volume levels and Mr Petrak reported there were currently no serious concerns with any licensed premises.

Taxis had continued to operate throughout the early part of the year during the lockdown period and vehicle inspection and enforcement activities had continued as normal. The Committee was advised of one serious incident in relation to a licensed driver which had resulted in the immediate revocation of their licence.

Resolved:

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