Agenda and minutes

Licensing Committee - Wednesday, 4th July, 2012 7.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, Merrial Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 2AG

Contact: Geoff Durham

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Wemyss.
2.	Declarations of Interest Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
3.	Minutes of a Previous Meeting PDF 30 KB Minutes: Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2012 be agreed as a correct record.
4.	Minutes of Sub Committee Meetings PDF 29 KB Additional documents: Licensing Sub-Committee Old Hall Country House , item 4. PDF 22 KB Licensing Sub-Committee Y2K , item 4. PDF 22 KB Minutes , 15/05/2012 Licensing Sub-Committee Various , item 4. PDF 29 KB Minutes , 29/05/2012 Licensing Sub-Committee , item 4. PDF 28 KB Minutes: Resolved:- That the minutes of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 19 March, 26 March, 16 April, 15 May and 29 May 2012 be agreed as correct records.
5.	Changes to the Licensing Act 2003 and Responsible Authorities PDF 27 KB Minutes: Consideration was given to a report advising Members of changes to the Licensing Act giving stronger powers in removing licences or refusing to grant licences to problem premises. It would also allow for delegation of powers of the licensing authority as a responsible authority to a recognised area of the Council. Members were asked to consider how to delegate the function of responsible authority to an area of the Council. The decision made by this Committee would be with immediate effect prior to being presented to Full Council in September. Legal advice had been received from James Button & Co Solicitors who made several recommendations as below which were agreed by this Committee. Resolved:- (a) That the Committee make a recommendation to Council that ‘Community Safety’ have delegated responsibility as the responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003. (b) That the decision outlined above (Resolution a) have immediate effect pending confirmation by Full Council at its meeting on 12 September 2012. (c) That Community Safety be designated as the responsible authority under the Gambling Act 2005. (d) That this decision have immediate effect pending confirmation by Full Council at its meeting on 12 September 2012.
6.	Changes to the Licensing Act 2003 PDF 26 KB Additional documents: Vicinity Test , item 6. PDF 60 KB Temporary Event Notice , item 6. PDF 72 KB Suspend Licences , item 6. PDF 64 KB Reducing Burden of Proof , item 6. PDF 69 KB Police Representations , item 6. PDF 31 KB There are a further 9 documents.View the full list of documents for item 6. Minutes: Consideration was given to a report outlining amendments to the Licensing Act 2003 following the granting of Royal Assent to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act on 15 September 2011. Five new measures were identified:- · Lowering the evidential household on licensing authorities. · Removing the vicinity test for licensing representatives to allow wider local community involvement. · Reforming the system of Temporary Event Notices. · Suspension of premises licences due to non-payment of annual fees. · The Licensing Authority becoming a responsible authority. Fact sheets were attached to the agenda outlining the changes. Resolved:- That the information be received.