Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors F Petersen, M Roe and R Welton.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

None.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee held on 21 February 2024.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2024 were

approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Report of the Joint Assistant Director for Environmental Health.

The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) presented a report to consider the responses to the consultation for the review of the draft revised Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003 and recommend a final draft for adoption at full Council.

Members pointed out that the name of the MP in the stakeholder contact list was incorrect. The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) stated that this would be amended.

Members discussed the policy and felt that it was important for it to consider local issues. The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) informed Members that the Council was a member of a Community Alcohol Partnership, and Licensing officers would make the Partnership aware of elements of the policy relevant to them.

Members felt that the policy could include more relating to domestic abuse, and agreed that a statement should be added to the policy reading: “The Council recognises that domestic abuse can involve all ages and genders.”

Members asked if the policy would include support for armed forces veterans because of the high rates of suicide amongst them. The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) advised that this would be one of the many topics covered by the ‘best practice’ information packs that would be sent to licence holders.

RESOLVED –

(1)      The Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee noted the outcome of the consultation and approved the revised draft Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003, with one amendment – that a statement should be added to the policy reading: “The Council recognises that domestic abuse can involve all ages and genders.”

(2)      The Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee referred the Policy to full Council together with a recommendation that the draft Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003 be adopted.

To consider any other matter which the Chair of the Committee is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

None.