Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report which provided an overall view of functions carried out, under the Licensing Act 2003, by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) Enforcement and Licensing Teams for Bromsgrove District during 2011.

The Acting Licensing Manager informed the Committee that she had introduced the report to Bromsgrove in order to inform Members of the register of applications, temporary event notices, personal licences and all other functions, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, carried out under the Licensing Act 2003 during 2011.  Members were informed that the Council must promote the four licensing objectives:

a)                 Prevention of crime and disorder

b)                 Public Safety

c)                  The prevention of public nuisance

d)                 The protection o children from harm

There had been 13 credible complaints about licensed premises made to WRS during the period 1st January to 31st December 2011.  Some of these complaints had been resolved very quickly through mediation, letter or advice from Environmental Health Officers, WRS Licensing Enforcement Officers and Licensing Police Officers.  Others had been prolonged whilst evidence had been gathered.

The Acting Licensing Manager responded to Members’ questions with regard to the frequency and attendance of Pubwatch meetings and the number of  under 18’s reported.  Members were informed of the use of Refusal Books in licensed premises, which were monitored by Police Licensing Officers and WRS Licensing Officers.

The Acting Licensing Manager provided Members with a verbal update on the recent WRS taxi enforcement exercise conducted in partnership with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) on Saturday 17th March 2012.  This had been the first enforcement exercise for sometime in Bromsgrove.  The operation had been scheduled to run from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. however, it had been very quiet.  A total of 8 vehicles had been brought to the Council’s depot for checking and had been of a good mechanical standard with only minor licensing breaches found.  The exercise ceased at 3.15 p.m. The Acting Licensing Manager responded to Members’ questions with regard to the time the exercise had been carried out.  Councillor R. J. Shannon expressed concerns about the number of taxis situated on the Worcester Road taxi rank during late evening and early morning.  The Acting Licensing Manager agreed to report his concerns to WRS licensing officers.   

RESOLVED that the Annual report on the Licensing Act 2003 be noted.