Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Farr and N Decent.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Notification was received from the nominated representative of the relevant Political Group Leader that Cllr A Jones would substitute for Cllr N Decent.

Councillors are asked to elect a Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the 2021/2022 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Cllr J J Butt be elected Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

Voting: Unanimous

Councillors are asked to elect a Vice-Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the 2021/2022 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Cllr J Bagwell be elected Vice Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

Voting: 8:5

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on agenda items considered at this meeting.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meetings held on 20 April and 21 April 2021 (to follow) and the Licensing Sub Committees held on 15 April 2021 and 29 April 2021(as attached).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committees held on 20 April 2021 and 21 April 2021, and the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committees held on be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution, which is available to view at the following link:

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of a public question is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

The Chairman reported that a public statement had been received from Susan Stockwell, and read the following statement out to the Committee on Susan Stockwells behalf:

Statement submitted from Susan Stockwell

Could the legal identity of any application for a license of any sort for premises to BCP be included as well as evidence that the individual or company is legally able to control the premises, eg entry from the Land Registry, lease or commercial license. In the case of a company a named director should apply with an entry from Companies House. The identity could then be verified through eg passport, driving license etc in the usual way for anything involving property. The current practice of allowing trading names only to be stated is not satisfactory.

The Chairman thanked Susan Stockwell for her statement and advised that it would be forwarded to officers for a formal response to be prepared.

The Licensing Committee, on 4^th March, agreed to a single set of fees for the provision of taxi and private hire functions.

In accordance with the requirements of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 once agreed the fees are subject to a 28 day period of consultation and must be advertised in a local paper.

If there are any objections to the fees received in the consultation period, then these must then be discussed by the Licensing Committee and if appropriate any changes to the fees as proposed can be made.

The Licensing Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was reminded that on 4 March the Committee had agreed to a single set of fees for the provision of taxi and private hire functions.

In relation to this the Committee was informed that in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 once agreed the fees are subject to a 28-day period of consultation and must be advertised in a local paper.

Further to this the Committee was advised that any objections to the fees received in the consultation period then these must then be discussed by the Licensing Committee and if appropriate any changes to the fees as proposed can be made. In respect of this the Committee was informed that one objection to the proposed fee variations had been received.

The Committee discussed the objection and felt that there were no new factors

RESOLVED that Members confirm agreement with the proposed taxi and private hire fees.

Voting: Unanimous

To consider an update on the draft Sex Establishment Policy for BCP Council, following the establishment of a Licensing Committee working group to consider the responses to the public consultation.

The Licensing Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided the Committee with an update on the progress made to date and the proposed next steps in developing the new BCP Council Sex Establishment Policy, that is required following local government reorganisation.

The Committee was advised that the working group had met to deal with the results of the public consultation which had been open for 4 weeks from 4 January to 1 February. Further to this the Committee was informed that there had been 206 responses to the survey.

The Chairman advised that the intention was to hold a full member briefing on this policy.

The Chairman took the committee through each amendment to the policy in detail and the committee agreed them in turn.

Further to this the Committee agreed that the policy would go out to further consultation and members were asked to advise democratic services if there were any questions they wished to propose to be part of the consultation exercise.

In addition the committee was advised that Licensing officers were consulting with those working in the industry as to their views.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the policy be incorporated as set out within the report and that the amended policy go out for further consultation.

Voting: Nem.Con. (2 Abstentions)

(Councillor G Farquhar requested that his abstention be recorded)

(Councillor D Brown left the room between 10.33am and 10.52am and therefore abstained from the vote thereon).

To determine whether to continue with the use of a second reserve for Sub Committees, as agreed by the Committee on a trial basis from December 2020 until May 2021.

The Licensing Committee was asked to consider whether to continue with the use of a second reserve for Sub-Committees, as agreed by the Committee on a trial basis from December 2020 until May 2021.

In relation to this the Committee felt that the introduction of the extra reserve had been a valuable addition.

RESOLVED that the use of a second reserve for Sub-Committees be continued.

Voting: Unanimous

To consider the Committee’s Forward Plan and receive any updates, as appropriate.

Members considered the Committees Forward Plan for the forthcoming year.