Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Chairman, Councillor Mrs P M Bryant and from Councillors Mrs S M Bayford, Miss S M Bell, T J Howard and D J Norris.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 July 2013.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 9 July 2013 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s Announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report/receive a presentation by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the introduction of joint inspection of licensed premises by the police, environmental health and fire and rescue services.

The Chairman welcomed Al Heinrich, Fareham Station Manager, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and PC Jason Pearce, Fareham Licensing Officer, Hampshire Constabulary, to the meeting.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the introduction of joint inspection of licensed premises by the police, environmental health and fire and rescue services.

Members received a presentation from the environmental health Food, Health & Safety, & Licensing Team Leader, the Police Licensing Officer for Fareham and the Fareham Station Manager, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, on the proposed trial of pre-planned multi-agency visits to high risk licensed premises in order to ensure that Premises Licence Holders are fully aware of the legal obligations placed upon them and to assist in achieving compliance.

It was noted that a seminar on the trial scheme was to take place at Ferneham Hall on Wednesday 18 September 2013 and that there had been a very good response to it, with approximately 110 businesses having indicated that they would attend. Feedback from the seminar would be reported to a future meeting of the Committee.

It was further noted that the pre-planned multi-agency visits would be part of a range of interventions, which would still include unannounced visits and spot checks.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the trial, which will assist in ensuring that those higher risk licensed premises within the Borough comply with the legislation and the requirements of their premises licences, be endorsed;

(b)       the checking of noise limiters and their settings be included on the inspection list; and

(c)        the officers be thanked for their presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on licensing applications received.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on licensing applications received.

Members were advised that the Government had just recently commenced a consultation concerning the future of Personal Licences (paragraph 6 of the report refers).

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2013/14.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the Committee’s work programme for 2013/14.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the work programme for 2013/14, as shown in Appendix A to the report, be confirmed;

(b)          the progress on actions since the last meeting of the Committee, as shown in Appendix B to the report, be noted; and

(c)          it be noted that arrangements were being made for an in-house licensing training session to take place, involving the Head of Environmental Health, the Solicitor to the Council and the Licensing Solicitor; the training session would be tailored to Fareham members’ needs and would be in a more two-way format than previous sessions.