Issue - meetings

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet in respect of the adoption of the Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003.

Councillor Evans declared an interest in this item and did not take part in the discussion and subsequent vote.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval and adoption of a revised Licensing Act 2003: Statement of Licensing Policy.

The report noted that Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 required a licensing authority to prepare and publish a statement of its licensing policy at least every three years, however the last review that had been scheduled for 2016 had not taken place due the Council’s focus at that time on taxi and private hire licensing.

It was noted that Cabinet at its meeting on 23 December 2019 (Cabinet Minute No.97) had approved that a consultation process on the drafted policy take place to inform the final version of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy. A summary of the consultation process was included in the officer’s report and a summary of responses was attached as an appendix.

The report also provided information on a proposed Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) for Wickersley that would be included in the revised Statement of Licensing Policy. It was noted that where appropriate the Council could identify areas within the Borough where the granting of further licences, or variations to licences would likely impact on the Council’s obligations to the licensing objectives, and as a consequence the Council should produce a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for such areas in order to establish whether a CIZ should be implemented.

It was noted that following the Cabinet decision that a CIA for Wickersley should be completed, that a CIA that had been drafted had been consulted on widely with Ward councillors, licensees, residents and other responsible authorities. In response to the information received from the responsible authorities and supported by the response to the consultation the CIA showed that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the implementation a CIZ for Wickersley due to the saturation of licensed premises, and the density of these premises having a negative impact on crime and anti-social behaviour and also of them negatively impacting health through an increase in ambulance call-outs directly related to alcohol consumption. The proposed CIZ for Wickersley was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report

The full revised Statement of Licensing Policy was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

Councillor Roche stated his support for the revised statement of Licensing Policy and noted the numerous support services that were available in the Borough for people looking to reduce their alcohol intake.

Councillor Carter advised of his concerns regarding the proposed Cumulative Impact Zone for Wickersley in light of the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and that zone would create further difficulties for the hospitality industry as the country emerged from the pandemic. Councillor Steele, as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board advised that when the revised statement of Licensing Policy had been considered by Board that they had recommended to Cabinet that the Cumulative Impact Zone for Wickersley be reconsidered and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 337

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Recommendations:-

1.    That Cabinet recommend to Council that the proposed Licensing Act 2003: Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-2025 be adopted.

2.    That Cabinet approve the Cumulative Impact Policy which details a Cumulative Impact Assessment for a specific area in Wickersley.

Consideration was given to the report which detailed how Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 required a licensing authority to prepare and publish a statement of its licensing policy at least every five years. 

The Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy was last published in 2011.

In December 2019, Cabinet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137

Consideration was given to a report that was submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 23 March 2020 in respect of the Licensing Act 2003: Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment and the Licensing Manager attended the meeting to present the report.

The report noted that Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 required a licensing authority to prepare and publish a statement of its licensing policy at least every three years, however the last review that had been scheduled for 2016 had not taken place due the Council’s focus at that time on taxi and private hire licensing.

It was noted that Cabinet at its meeting on 23 December 2019 (Cabinet Minute No.97) had approved that a consultation process on the drafted policy take place to inform the final version of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy. A summary of the consultation process was included in the officer’s report and a summary of responses was attached as an appendix.

The report also provided information on a proposed Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) for Wickersley that would be included in the revised Statement of Licensing Policy. It was noted that where appropriate the Council could identify areas within the Borough where the granting of further licences, or variations to licences would likely impact on the Council’s obligations to the licensing objectives, and as a consequence the Council should produce a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for such areas in order to establish whether a CIZ should be implemented.

It was noted that following the Cabinet decision that a CIA for Wickersley should be completed, that a CIA that had been drafted had been consulted on widely with Ward councillors, licensees, residents and other responsible authorities. In response to the information received from the responsible authorities and supported by the response to the consultation the CIA showed that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the implementation a CIZ for Wickersley due to the saturation of licensed premises, and the density of these premises having a negative impact on crime and anti-social behaviour and also of them negatively impacting health through an increase in ambulance call-outs directly related to alcohol consumption. The proposed CIZ for Wickersley was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report

The full revised Statement of Licensing Policy was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

Members welcomed the report and the revised Statement of Licensing Policy but expressed concern about the proposed Cumulative Impact Zone for Wickersley, in relation to both its size and that it was the only such proposed area in the Borough when other areas had similar densities of licenced premises.  Members asked for further information on the processes that had been followed that had led to the proposed determination of Wickersley as a CIZ and asked if the operation of the CIZ already operating in nearby Bawtry had been looked at to inform the decision making process.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 164