Agenda and minutes

The Chairman congratulated Ms. S. Garratt on her recent promotion to Acting Licensing Manager.  

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Ms. M. T. Buxton.

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 5th January 2012 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

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.

The Acting Licensing Manager provided the Committee with a verbal update on “Dealing with the problems of late night drinking”.  This was a Home Office consultation on secondary legislation for the proposed late night levy and early morning restriction orders.  The late night levy was a proposal for local licensing authorities to have the ability to impose a charge (levy) on premises open for the sale of alcohol between 12.00 a.m. and 6.00 a.m.  Any funds raised would be split 70% and 30% between the police and local licensing authority respectively.  Early morning Restriction Orders would give local licensing authorities the power to restrict the sale of alcohol between 12.00 a.m. and 6.00 a.m. in areas where they considered the restriction was necessary to promote the licensing objectives.  Members were asked to note that the consultation would run until 10th April 2012. 

RESOLVEDthat the Committee Services Officer be tasked to provide Members with a copy of the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Licensing Update – February 2012.