Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, 13 Church Street, Clitheroe, BB7 2RA

Contact: Mike Hill 

Items
No. Item

255.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for the meeting were received from Councillors Humpheys and Newmark.

 

256.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 215 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

257.

Declarations of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests

Minutes:

Councillor Rogerson declared an interest in Agenda Item 5 – Gambling Act 2005 – Review of Statement of Principles.

 

258.

Public participation

Minutes:

There was no public participation.

 

259.

Licensing enforcement - Verbal Update

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Licensing Sergeant Gary Hennighan, from Lancashire Constabulary.

 

Sergeant Hennighan and the Council’s Licensing Enforcement Officer provided an update on the night-time economy in the borough, which appeared to be improving, especially in Whalley.

 

Sergeant Hennighan informed members that the police aim to take a joint approach to policing licensed premises and sought support wherever possible from residents and other local agencies such as the Council.

 

Sergeant Hennighan went on to say that increased police presence in an area can often act as a deterrent in preventing crime and that he was pleased there had been a relaunch of the Pub Watch scheme.

260.

Gambling Act 2005 - Review of Statement of Principles pdf icon PDF 294 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing the Committee of the requirement to review the Council’s Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 (“Act”) and seek Committee’s authorisation to consult upon the amendment attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

Members were reminded that:

·         It is a legal requirement under the Act that a Council must have a Statement of Principles which is reviewed and published at least every three years.

·         If amendments are made during the three-year period since the Statement of Principles was last legally reviewed, it must still be reviewed again, in line with the 3 yearly requirements.

·         The Council’s current Statement of Principles was first approved and took effect from 31 January 2007, and it has been updated and re-published in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. 

·         The Statement of Principles must be published four weeks before it comes into effect.

·         It comes into effect on 31 January 2022 and hence it must be published by 3 January 2022 the Statement will then remain in force until January 2025.

 

The report noted that there are three licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005 namely:

·         Preventing gambling from being a source of, or associated with, crime and disorder.

·         Ensuring gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.

·         Protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

 

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approved the draft Gambling Statement of Principles detailed in Appendix 1 and 2 of the report and authorised the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to consult upon them between 10 September 2021 and 24 October 2021 and that the results of that consultation be reported back to this committee.

 

261.

Electric and hybrid vehicles pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing the Committee of issues in relation to the possible introduction of a requirement for or support for the use of hybrid or electric vehicles for taxi and private hire use.

 

Members were reminded that at the meeting of this Committee on 23 March 2021:

·         They considered the possibility of amending the taxi licensing regime to favour the use of electric or hybrid vehicles

·         That officers were requested to consider the approach adopted by other authorities.

Members were also reminded that at the time of the March 2021 meeting, the Ribble Valley taxi fleet included 2 hybrid vehicles and no electric vehicles.

 

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Authorised the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to add the matter as an agenda item for discussion at the next Annual Taxi meeting.

262.

Re-opening of licensed premises - Update pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee on the steps taken by the Council to assist hospitality venues to reopen safely.

 

Members were reminded that at the time of the last Committee meeting on 15 June 2021, central government had postponed the removal of restrictions under Step 4 of the COVID-19 Roadmap until a date no earlier than 19 July 2021.  The relaxation of restrictions had proceeded on that date.

 

The report noted that:

·         The Council’s COVID-19 and licensing enforcement staff had been proactive in supporting hospitality business and the licensed trade for reopening.

·         Since the start of June 2021, the enforcement staff had received 23 COVID-19 related complaints regarding hospitality venues.

·         The main complaints had related to customers not wearing masks, or staff not self-isolating when it was believed they should have been.

·         All complaints had been investigated but no formal action had been taken, either due to lack of evidence or because it was considered that verbal advice was sufficient.

·         27 requests for guidance or advice had been received.

In advance of the removal of restrictions, further advice had been provided to venues.  

263.

Member training - Update pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of the training to be provided on Licensing Sub-committees.

 

Members were reminded that:

·         Licensing Sub-Committees are held when required to determine licensing applications and/or review licences.

·         Licensing responsibility is heavily governed by statute and guidance; therefore, the discharge of these functions requires that Members have a good understanding of the latest statutory frameworks.

·         Licensing, as an area of local authority decision-making, has become a fertile topic for legal challenge.

 

The report noted that the training will focus on the procedural and legal issues surrounding Sub-committees in the context of the Licensing Act 2003.

264.

Reports from representatives on outside bodies

Minutes:

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

265.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

Minutes:

No reports.