Minutes for Licensing and Regulatory Committee meeting, Sep 28 2009, 6.30PM official page

No apologies for absence were received.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Councillor B. Rimmer asked that the Committee’s best wishes be passed to Mr J. Benton, MP for Bootle, as it was his 76^th birthday.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s best wishes be extended to Mr Joe Benton, MP for Bootle on his 76^th birthday.

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 August 2009

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 August 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director updating on the applications made under the Licensing Act, 2003 which he had determined.

The report indicated that Sefton’s Statement of Licensing Policy followed the recommended delegation of functions contained within the “Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003”; that in effect, this meant that where there were no relevant representations on an application for the grant of a premises licence or club premises certificate, or Police objections to an application for a personal licence, then these matters would be dealt with by Officers in order to speed matters through the system; and that the Guidance also recommended that, where powers had been delegated, the Committee would receive regular reports on decisions made so that they maintained an overview of the general licensing situation.

For the period 8 August 2009 to 11 September 2009 the Environmental Protection Director had received and determined 28 applications for premises licences; 13 applications for personal licences; 1 application for a club premises certificate; and 12notifications of temporary event notices.                                            

RESOLVED:

That the report and the fact that further update reports will be submitted, as necessary, be noted.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director, updating on the applications, made under the Gambling Act 2005, which he has determined.

The report indicated that Sefton’s Statement of Licensing Policy followed the recommended delegation of functions contained within the “Guidance issued under Section 25 of the Gambling Act 2005”; that in effect, this meant that where there were no relevant representations on an application for the grant of a premises licence or a permit then these matters would be dealt with by Officers in order to speed matters through the system; and that the Guidance also recommended that, where powers had been delegated, the Committee would receive regular reports on decisions made so that they maintained an overview of the general gambling situation.

For the period 8 August 2009 to 11 September 2009 the Environmental Protection Director had received and determined 3 applications for a Licensed Premises Gaming Permit and 8 notifications for Licensed Premises Automatic Gaming.

RESOLVED:

That the report and the fact that further update reports will be submitted, as necessary, be noted.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director

Further to Minute No 6 of 8 June 2009 The Committee considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director seeking approval of the revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy following the statutory consultation period.  The licensing policy will last for a maximum of three years, but could  be reviewed and revised by the Authority at any time.

A copy of the revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy was attached as Annex A to the report.

RESOLVED:

(1)             That the Council be requested to approve the revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director

Further to Minute No 44 of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) meeting held 23 October 2007, the Committee considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director which advised of the results of the Licensing Survey 2008.  The report indicated that Mott MacDonald be commissioned to undertake a survey to gauge how the “notification system” for local residents was working in relation to applications involving reviews, grants, variations or minor variations.

A copy of Sefton Licensing Survey 2008 was attached as an Annex to the report.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of this matter be deferred to enable the report to be considered in conjunction with the Community Involvement – Licensing Act Working Group – Final Report.

The Committee was advised that this would be the last meeting of the Committee for Licensing Sergeant Nick Cowell, Merseyside Police as he would be commencing new duties within the Police Force; and that his colleague, Steve Woods would be the new representative attending future meetings.

RESOLVED:

That the best thanks of the Committee be extended to Nick Cowell for his services to the Committee with regard to Licensing and he be wished every success in the future.