Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs P Bryant, Councillor L Keeble and Councillor Mrs C Heneghan.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 15 October 2019 and any meetings of the Licensing Panel that have taken place since the last meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting held on 15 October 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Panel held on 10 December 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman announced that following the Licensing Panel held on 10 December 2019 in respect Ranchos steakhouse, an appeal has been submitted by the Applicant against the decision made by the Panel to refuse the application for a premises licence. The appeal to the Magistrates Court has been set for 09 April 2020.

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 by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer which provides details of the Actual Revenue Expenditure for 2018/19 in respect of the services for which the Committee is responsible.

The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer which provided details of the actual revenue expenditure for 2018/19 in respect of the services for which this Committee is responsible.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee notes the content of the report.

To consider a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer which sets out the proposed level of Fees and Charges for 2020/21.

The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer which sets out the level of fees and charges for the Committee’s services and seeks agreement for them before being recommended to Council for approval.

Following discussion in respect of the Street Trading Consent licences, it was proposed by Councillor R H Price, JP and seconded by Councillor J Forrest that no increase in fees be made at this time to any of the three Street Trading licences.  On being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST with only 2 members voting in favour. 

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:-

(a)  agrees the fees and charges for 2020/21; and

(b)  recommends the fees and charges to Council for approval.

To consider a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer which outlines the Committee’s Spending Plans for 2020/21.

The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer which sets out the overall level of revenue spending on the Committee’s services. The report also seeks agreement for the revised revenue budget for 2019/20 and the base budget for 2020/21 before being recommended to Council for approval.

RESOLVED that, having reviewed the content of the report, the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:-

(a)  agrees the revised budget for 2019/20;

(b)  agrees the base budgets for 2020/21; and

(c)  recommends the budget to Council for approval

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health which gives a preliminary review of the Panel’s work programme for 2019/20 and a draft work programme for 2020/21

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health which contained details of the position of the Committee’s existing Work Programme for the current year in order to allow an early assessment of progress.  It also gave background information to assist members in drawing up the Committee’s Work Programme for 2020/21.

Members were advised that there is a statutory requirement for the Council to review its Licensing Policy every 5 years and that the current policy is due for renewal by early 2021.  As part of the Council’s Policy Framework, the draft policy will need to undergo a period of public consultation and be recommended by both the Committee and the Executive before being referred to Council for approval.  The Committee therefore agreed that a report on the draft Licensing Policy be added to the agenda of the meeting scheduled to take place on 31 March 2020. 

Members requested that a verbal update be provided at the meeting scheduled to take place on 16 June 2020 to inform Members of the outcome of the appeal made to the Magistrate’s court by Rancho’s Steakhouse against the Licensing Panel’s decision to refuse the application for a premises licence.

Members also requested that the current position with regard to the 2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries be established so that the Committee could consider whether an update report should be added to the Work Programme for 2020/21.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee agrees that:

(a)  the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 15 October 2019, attached as Appendix A to the report, be noted;

(b)  having considered the Work Programme for 2019/20, attached as Appendix B to the report, an item in respect of the draft Licensing Policy be added to the agenda of the meeting scheduled to take place on 31 March 2020; and

(c)  having given initial consideration to the draft Work Programme for 2020/21, attached as Appendix C to the report:

(i)        a verbal update be provided at the meeting scheduled to take place on 16 June 2020 to inform Members of the outcome of the appeal made to the Magistrate’s court by Rancho’s Steakhouse against the Licensing Panel’s decision to refuse the application for a premises licence; and

(ii)       the current position in respect of the 2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries be established so that the Committee can consider whether an update report should be added to the Committee’s Work Programme for 2020/21.