Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

[(a) Committee meeting, 9 September 2015 (for approval)

(b)  Sub-Committee meetings, 2, 9, 10, 16 and 30 September 2015, 7 October 2015, 4, 11, 17 and 26 November 2015, 17 December 2015 and 5 January 2016 (for approval and adoption)].

Resolved:

a)    That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2015 be approved as a correct record.

b)    That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 2, 9, 10, 16 and 20 September 2015, 7 October 2015, 4, 11, 17 and 26 November 2015, 17 December 2015 and 5 January 2016 be approved as a correct record and adopted.

Colin Parr, Licensing Manager, updated the Committee on recent appeals in the Magistrates Court as follows:

·         Prince Albert – Appeal against revocation of Premises Licence.  Agreed by way of consent order in view of change of management team for the premises. No problem issues to date.

·         Merridale Supermarket – Agreed by way of consent order in view of more stringent licence conditions.

·         International Mini Market – Appeal hearing 19 January 2016.  Appeal withdrawn by Premises Licence Holder and therefore dismissed.  Shop now cleared of alcohol.

The Licensing Manager advised that the impact of the Cumulative Impact Zones would be reviewed early in the next municipal year and would include consideration of any data forthcoming from the West Midlands Police in regard to the Chapel Ash area.

Resolved:

            That the report be received, subject to the deletion of item 6 relating to the Licensing Authority and Safeguarding Children, as the Place and Safeguarding Forum has been subsumed within a wider group looking at strategic issues across the Directorate.

[To approve proposed fees and charges for 2016/17]

The Licensing Manager, presented the report which detailed the proposed fees and charges for licences relating to hackney carriages, private hire vehicles and private hire vehicle operators for 2016/17.

Resolved:

a)    That the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle drivers, detailed at Appendix A to the report, be approved for implementation with effect from 1 April 2016.

b)    That the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, detailed at Appendix B to the report, be approved for implementation with effect from 1 April 2016.

c)    That any garage registered with VOSA for a minimum of three years and considered ‘green’ rated be allowed to become a council approved testing facility for the testing of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles.

[To approve proposed fees and charges for 2016/17]

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which detailed the proposed fees and charges in relation to certain licences and licensed activities regulated by the Licensing Committee.  The report also detailed fees, charges and permits set by the Secretary of State in relation to the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005, over which the Council has no local control.

Resolved:

a)    That the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing detailed at Appendix A to the report be approved for implementation with effect from 1 April 2016.

b)    That the proposed fees and charges in relation to the Gambling Act 2005 over which the Council has fee setting powers, detailed at Appendix B to the report, be approved for implementation with effect from 1 April 2016.

[To approve proposed fees, charges and consents for 2016/17]

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which detailed proposed street trading fees and charges to take effect from 1 April 2016, together with arrangements for the control and regulation of street trading activities undertaken in the City.

Resolved:

a)    That the proposed fees and charges for Annual Street Trading Consents detailed at Appendix A to the report be approved for implementation with effect from 1 April 2016.

b)    That the proposed fees and charges for Occasional/Temporary Street Trading Consents detailed at Appendix B to the report be approved for implementation with effect from 1 April 2016.

[To approve proposed terms of reference]

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which sought approval of the new terms of reference for the Molineux Stadium Safety Advisory Group.  A discussion ensued regarding the smoking of Vapour E-Cigarettes in the stadium and possible action to be taken where this causes nuisance to other supporters. 

Resolved:

a)    That the review and consultation process undertaken in regard to the terms of reference for the Molineux Stadium Safety Advisory Group be noted.

b)    That the proposed terms of reference detailed at Appendix A to the report be approved.

c)    That the issue raised in regard to the smoking of Vapour E-Cigarettes within the football stadium be raised with the Club via the Safety Advisory Group.

d)    That the minutes of the meetings the Safety Advisory Group be circulated, for information, to the Licensing Committee members within two weeks of the meetings.

[To approve the Policy for adoption by full Council]

The Licensing Manager presented a report, which presented the draft Statement of Gambling Policy for implementation with effect from 31 January 2016.  He advised that the publication of guidance in regard to the Local Area Assessment was still awaited and a full review of the Policy would be undertaken on its receipt.

Resolved:

a)    That the draft Statement of Gambling Policy be approve for adoption by full Council at the meeting on 27 January 2015, for implementation with effect from 31 January 2016.

b)    That a further report be presented to the Licensing Committee following the more substantial review and the development of the local area needs assessment later this year.

To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraph 7 of Schedule 12A to the Act relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

Resolved:

            That, in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraph 7 of Schedule 12A to the Act, relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

[Sub-Committee – meetings, 16 September, 21 October and 26 November 2015 (for approval and adoption)]

Resolved:

            That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 16 September, 21 October and 26 November 2015 be approved as a correct record and adopted.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

The Chair referred to the fact that Linda Banbury, Democratic Support Officer, would be leaving the Council on 25 February 2016 following forty one years’ service.  The members joined with the Chair in thanking her for her contribution to the work of the Licensing Committee.