Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Geoff Durham 742222 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor S White.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO LICENSING MATTERS

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest stated.

3.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:     That, subject to the inclusion of Councillor T Johnson as being in

                        attendance, the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 March, 2019.

4.

CUMULATIVE IMPACT POLICY pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Appendix B to follow

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report asking for Member’s consideration as to whether the Cumulative Impact Policy was still required. 

 

The Council’s Licensing Administration Team Manager introduced the report which was accompanied by a presentation given by Sergeant John Gritton of Staffordshire Police.  A copy of the presentation was handed to Members at the meeting.

 

The presentation provided evidence and support to enable Members to make a decision  regarding continued support of the Cumulative Impact Policy.

 

The figures showed an 2% increase of crime from last year, within the Borough and a 1% increase on incidents.

 

Within the Town Centre, there had been 183 more crimes reported than last year. More serious violent crime  had increased by 5 on last year, and there had been 45 less serious violent crimes and 125 more Anti-Social Behaviour Incidents.

 

The presentation also gave a breakdown of days and times of committed crimes and the top locations.

 

Councillor John Cooper queried whether the boundaries of the Zone needed shrinking or expanding.  Sergeant Gritton stated that they were about right.

 

Councillor Sweeney stated that the pubs heading up towards Hartshill (known as the Hartshill Mile), was catered for the ‘older’ generation – who wanted a quiet drink.  He queried whether the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) needed to stretch that far now that Zanzibar was closed.

 

The Council’s Partnerships Interventions Officer, Mr Trevor Smith stated that the Policy was around the proliferation and frequency on licensed premises and it was best to keep that area within the Zone.  Mr Smith added that the CIZ was helped by the staggered closing times of premises.

 

Councillor Robinson asked Sergeant Gritton how serious incidents within the Town Centre impacted upon other Wards in the Borough if all police Officers had to attend.

 

Members were informed that it was a different team.  Within the town Centre it was a ‘community team’ (PCSO’s) whereas the ‘incident team’ would respond to 999 calls.

 

Resolved:     That the Cumulative Impact Policy continue in its current form

pending transition to a Cumulative Impact Assessment.

 

           

 

 

5.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO PUBLIC PROTECTION MATTERS

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within the agenda

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest stated.

6.

FOOD SAFETY SERVICE PLAN 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report advising Members of work planned by the Food and Safety Team in 2019/20 along with a review of last year’s performance. Five hundred and twenty two inspections would be carried out.

 

The Council’s Food Safety Officer, Mr Nigel Gardner introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to Appendix A, the Food Safety Service Plan for 2019/20.

 

Councillor John Cooper asked what the cost was to send food samples away for testing.

 

Mr Gardner advised that the costs of this were not met by the Council.

 

Councillor Kearon asked Mr Gardner how confident he was that the service could be maintained with limited resources.

 

Newcastle was working with a Local Authority in Devon to meet any shortfall.

 

Councillor Kearon enquired about Category E premises (lowest risk) who moved to a self-assessment process.  How was the Council made aware of any issues that arose.

 

Every three years the Council would make a visit to ensure that the standards were still high.  In addition, the public are very good at reporting any problems.

 

Councillor Kearon asked if there were any plans to run a public intelligence campaign. 

 

Members were advised that this could work and that a similar programme was run a few years ago.

 

Councillor Gill Williams asked if the Council still dropped in on premises or if they were pre-informed of a visit.

 

Mr Gardner confirmed that unannounced visits still took place, however for large manufacturing premise, the paperwork was asked for in advance of a visit taking place on a non-specified date.

 

Councillor Jill Waring asked what the ‘food related diseases’ referred to.

 

Members were advised that these were diseases such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, and included a small number of e-coli cases.  Non-food infectious disease may also include Legionnaires disease and Norovirus.

 

Councillor Dymond asked what the response time was when someone made a complaint.

 

If it was a local premise, it would be within 48 to 72 hours.

 

Resolved:     That the Food Safety Service Plan for 2019/20 be received and

endorsed.     

 

 

7.

PUBLIC SPACE PROTECTION ORDER PUBLIC CONSULTATION UPDATE pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report updating Members on the recent public consultation which had recently been taken on the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO’s) and to seek approval to adopt two PSPO’s in the Borough.

 

Trevor Smith introduced the report, drawing Members’ attention to paragraph 3.1, number 4 which gave slightly amended prohibitions.

 

Members were advised that prohibitions 2 and 3 would be adapted  for Queen Elizabeth Park as there were no council owner car parks nearby.

 

Councillor Gill Williams queried the gathering of gangs of youths in a park where a PSPO was in place and calling a PCSO to assist.

 

PSPO’s did not apply to under 18’s but there were other methods/powers in place for this.

 

Councillor Kearon stated that he would feel more comfortable with a better description of aggressive and persistent begging as some of the people just sat quietly.

 

It was a broad term but individuals were given the chance to accept any help given to them. 

 

If enforcement is used to deal with a situation, it would be backed up with evidence.  Officers were aware of those who were ‘genuine’ beggars.

 

Councillor Robinson said that there was a deep rooted problem in society when people felt the need to beg aggressively.  In addition, Councillor Robinson asked what IT support to the homeless to give them an email address to help with their search for accommodation.   

 

Councillor Jill waring said that it was tragic that people found themselves on the street.  The Council did everything that they could to help the homeless but there were those who didn’t accept the help.

 

Councillor Robinson requested regular updates on PSPO’s, running alongside the existing update reports that are already brought to this Committee.

 

Resolved:     That, the making of Public Space Protection Orders for

Newcastle Town Centre and for Queen Elizabeth Park be

approved.

8.

DISCLOSURE OF EXEMPT INFORMATION

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the attached report, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Minutes:

Resolved:-                That the public be excluded from the meeting during

consideration if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1,2 and 7 contained within Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972

 

9.

MINUTES OF PUBLIC PROTECTION SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS

To consider the minutes of the Public Protection Sub-Committees which have met since the previous Licensing and Public Protection Committee.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:     That the Minutes of the meetings held on 27 March and 10

                        April, 2019 be received.

10.

URGENT BUSINESS

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.