Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2019 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct, subject to the following amendment:-

Minute No. 21 – The Chair also reiterated that if any complaints should be received from members of the public that the matter could come back for consideration in the intervening period to be considered by the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee.

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item.  Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

The Licensing Committee received the annual report for the proposed licensing fees and charges for 2020/21, which the Licensing Committee had a statutory responsibility to set. The fees set in the report were reflective of the cost of delivering the various licensing functions which were based on an average estimated cost for the year.

Particular reference was made to the fees for the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005, which were set nationally and no changes had been made from the previous year’s figures. Member’s attention was drawn to the two parts of the licence fees, as detailed in the report which showed, that part A would cover the processing costs of applications and the part B would cover the cost of managing and enforcing the licensing regime.

A notable amendment to the 2020/21 fees and charges, was the animal licensing fees, following the changes made in 2019 which had introduced charges based on a rating scheme. A premises with a rating of 1 and 2 would receive a licence for one year, a rating of 3 and 4 would receive a two year licence and a rating of 5 would be granted a three year licence. All fees would be collected when the licence was granted.

The notice of variation for vehicles and operator’s licence fees would be advertised for 28 days coming into effect on 1 April 2020. The notice would be displayed in the reception of the Civic Centre and in local newspapers. Any challenges to the notice would require the fees and charges to be brought to the next Licensing Committee on 24 March 2020.

RESOLVED that the proposed Fees and Charges for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 be approved as set out in the report presented at the meeting.

To consider the verbal update of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

The Licensing Committee received a verbal update on a recent approval for the window display at Simply Pleasure, following the receipt for a request to change the display. Approval had been made under delegated powers as authorised by Full Council on 17 December 2019, where the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, had considered the content of the window display to be appropriate. He had consulted with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Licensing Committee who had also considered the display to be acceptable.

Members noted the importance of establishments following the rules set out in the policy to ensure that window displays were suitable.

The Licensing Committee noted the approval of the window display content under delegated powers.