Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor S. P. Shannon.

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 11th June 2012 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

The Committee was asked to consider a report which advised Members of the outcome of the recent consultation exercise undertaken with stakeholders in respect of the 2013 / 2016 Statement of Gambling Principles.  The 12 week consultation period closed on 17th October 2012. 

The Senior Licensing Practitioner presented the report and in doing so informed Members that the Gambling Act 2005 required all licensing authorities to prepare and publish a statement of the principles that they proposed to apply in exercising their functions under the Act during the three year period to which the policy applied.  Members were advised that there had been no significant changes to the legislation or guidance affecting gambling since the previous Statement of Principles had been adopted by the Council.  Members were further informed that no responses had been received during the consultation process.

The Acting Licensing Manager and Senior Licensing Practitioner responded to Members’ questions with regard to:

·        Frivolous or vexatious representations

·        No requirement under legislation to notify Elected Members

·        How persons representing the interests of those who are likely to be affected by the exercise of Bromsgrove District Council’s functions under the Gambling Act 2005, were consulted on the document.

RESOLVED that, the Committee notes the outcome of the consultation exercise and recommends to the Cabinet that the revised Statement of Gambling Principles 2013 / 2016 be adopted.

(The Chairman agreed for this matter to be raised as an urgent item).

The Acting Licensing Manager, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) informed the Committee that she had been asked by Wychavon District Council and Worcester City Council, Portfolio Holders for Regulatory Services if there would be any merit in holding a meeting of the Portfolio Holders for Regulatory Services and the Chairman of Licensing Committee’s for each of the WRS partner authorities.  The meeting would provide an opportunity to look at and discuss policies common to partner authorities across WRS and share ideas of best practice.

During a detailed discussion Members acknowledged that it was always appropriate to develop and use best practice.  Concern was expressed however that as this Council already had robust Licensing Policies which had been proved to work well, in Bromsgrove, it may be inappropriate to develop broader joint policies to cover a number of authorities.  The Acting Licensing Manager responded to Members’ concerns and stressed that she had raised the possibility of a meeting as requested, with a view to obtaining the Committee’s views on the matter and to ascertain whether there would be any benefit in holding such a meeting.  It was not intended that there would be any impact on the ability of individual partner authorities to have their own locally agreed versions of policies.

Members agreed that specific detailed information would be required before a decision could be taken by the Committee in respect of participating in any proposed meetings.  Members agreed it would be important for Bromsgrove to be represented should any future meetings be agreed, but Members sought further clarification with regard to the proposed meetings and what additional benefits would attach to member member discussions on the basis that WRS officers already work collaboratively and share best practice across partner authorities.

Further discussion followed and Members questioned if there were any Terms of Reference for the proposed meetings and if there would be any decision making process in respect of joint policies.   

The Principal Solicitor informed the Committee that governance arrangements were in place under the WRS, Service Level Agreement and Terms of Reference and that there was no proposal for any of those arrangements to be changed.  The decision of whether to participate in the proposed meeting was one to be taken by the Licensing Committee to whom Council had delegated the Licensing function.  The Principal Solicitor suggested that officers obtain further detailed information about the proposal to meet with the other WRS partner authorities and that a report be brought back to the Committee when this information was available.

RESOLVED that the Acting Licensing Manager be tasked to obtain further detailed information in respect of the proposed WRS partner authorities meeting and report back to the Committee.