Chair of Licensing and Regulatory Committee
At its meeting on 2 October 2020, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee considered Paper MLR/20/2 and accepted the Recommendations as set out in the report.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
That the ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ document be adopted.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
34.1 The Chairman invited the Chairman of the Licencing and Regulatory Committee to introduce Paper MC/20/13 and to move the recommendation in the report.
34.2 Councillor Guthrie said that a five-yearly review of the Statement of Licensing Policy for Mid Suffolk District Council had been undertaken and it was for Council to decide whether to adopt the revised policies. If approved the revised policy statement for Mid Suffolk would be adopted for publication and ready to take effect from 7 January 2021.
34.3 A public consultation was carried out between 20 August 2020 and 16 September 2020 in respect of the Statement of Licensing Policy for Mid Suffolk District Council. Section 5 of The Licensing Act 2003 required that each Licensing Authority determined and published a local ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ relating to the discharge of its licensing functions under the Act. The legislation aimed to secure full cost-recovery of administering Licensing Act 2003 functions through fees payable for licence applications and ongoing maintenance. The fee banding system and fee levels were currently set by Central Government via Regulation (as they have been, unchanged, since 2005). The current draft would be the fifth edition of the Council’s ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ under the Licensing Act 2003.
34.4 The consultation had taken place over a period of four weeks, through various channels and media. No responses to the consultation in Mid Suffolk had been received. As well as all existing premises and club licence holders, 150 relevant businesses and organisations were consulted, including all of the Parish Councils. The Statement of Licensing Policy is based on the Licensing Act 2003 and the statutory guidance (section 182 guidance) which limited the degree to which it could be amended.
34.5 The draft ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ for Mid Suffolk was considered by the Mid Suffolk Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 2nd October 2020. The matter of business closures during a lockdown was considered for inclusion in the Policy. The legal advice was that there was specific legislation covering these matters, breach of which might be relevant to trigger a review of a Premises Licence, but this did not need to be specifically mentioned in the Policy. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend to full Council that it be adopted without further amendment.
34.6 Councillor Guthrie MOVED Recommendation 3.1 in the report which was SECONDED by Councillor Norris.
34.7 Councillor Otton referred to page 60 of the report and commented that foreign employees had to provide a statement of evidence of the right to work in the UK, which demonstrated the Council’s commitment to the anti-slavery act.
34.8 The recommendation was put to Member for voting.
By a unanimous vote.
It was RESOLVED: -
That the draft revision Licensing Act 2003 ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ document as attached as Appendix A to Paper MC/20/13 be adopted, for publication and to take effect for five years (unless sooner revised) from 7 January 2021.
Chair of Licensing and Regulatory Committee
At its meeting on 9 October 2020, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee considered Paper BLR/20/2 and accepted the Recommendations as set out in the report.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
That the ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ document be adopted.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
32.1 The Chair invited the Chair of Licensing and Regulatory Committee to introduce Paper BC/20/13.
32.2 Councillor Newman provided a detailed summary including that a public consultation was carried out between 20 August 2020 and 16 September 2020 in respect of the Statement of Licensing Policy for Babergh District Council.
32.3 Section 5 of The Licensing Act 2003 required that each Licensing Authority should determine and publish a local ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ relating to the discharge of its licensing functions under the Act. The Licensing Team revisited the statement, which had been in effect since January 2016. The report sought the approval by full Council of the revised policy statement for Babergh DC so that it may be adopted for publication and ready to take effect from 7 January 2021.
32.4 The current draft would be the fifth edition of the Council’s ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ under the Licensing Act 2003. The consultation took place over a period of four weeks, through various channels and media. Only one response was received. As well as all existing premises and club licence holders, 150 relevant businesses and organisations were consulted, including all Parish Councils. The Statement of Licensing Policy was based on the Licensing Act 2003 and the statutory guidance (section 182 guidance).
32.5 The draft ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ for Babergh was considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on the 9th of October. There were some discussions around the breadth of the consultation, and checks carried out to ensure that licence applicants have adequate English language skills, but no amendments were made and the Committee voted unanimously to recommend to full Council that it be adopted without further amendment.
32.6 Councillor Newman PROPOSED Recommendation 3.1 in the report which was SECONDED by Councillor Carpendale.
32.7 Councillor Carpendale thanked the Licensing Team for their extensive knowledge.
32.8 Councillor Lindsay enquired if the legislation allowed changes for single use of plastic cups and plates when providing licensing for events, which would encourage reuse of plastic cups.
32.9 Kathrine Green, the Licensing Officer responded that events had to provide a detailed plan and that the team could advise the use of plastic cups.
32.10 Councillor Arthey queried the inclusion of hairdressers and why they would apply for a license.
32.11 Councillor Newman responded that some hairdressers offered alcoholic beverages to customers attending the salon for special occasions, such as weddings.
32.12 Members did not wish to debate the item, and the recommendation was put to Member for voting.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:-
That the draft revision Licensing Act 2003 ‘Statement of Licensing Policy’ document as attached as Appendix A to Paper BC/20/13 be adopted, for publication and to take effect for five years (unless sooner revised) from 7 January 2021.