Agenda item - Licensing Annual Report

Agenda item

Licensing Annual Report

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Licensing Annual Report 2014/2015 which provided an overall view of the activities, under the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005 and other aspects of Licensing, and to inform the Committee on any issues anticipated in the ensuing year.   The report detailed the work carried out by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) Enforcement and Licensing Teams for Bromsgrove District Council.

 

The Senior Licensing Practitioner introduced the report and in doing so informed the Committee that since 1st June 2010 the WRS Licensing Team had taken over operational delivery of the statutory functions of licensing and enforcement of regulated activities and businesses operating under the Licensing Act 2003 on behalf of Bromsgrove District Council.  

 

In April 2014 a new Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003 was published following consultation.  The Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles was last published with effect from 31st January 2013 and was therefore due to be reviewed with  a new Statement of Principles to be published by 31st January 2016.

 

The report also detailed the number of new licences issued and granted by Bromsgrove District Council in 2014/2015, under the Licensing Act 2003; the number of premises which had continued to be licensed by the Council under the Gambling Act 2005.  The number of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensed vehicles and drivers had remained relatively steady during 2014/2015. 

 

In October 2013 the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into force within the District.  Under this new legislation the Council was responsible for issuing mobile scrap metal collector licences and scrap metal site licences.  The Council had issued five site licences and 9 mobile collector licences.  The Licensing Team were responsible for enforcing the legislation in partnership with the Police and Environment Agency. 

 

In response to questions raised by Members, officers informed the Committee that the Police had been very proactive and that certain areas had been targeted in order to prevent scrap metal theft.  With regards to enforcement the Police had taken the lead, as under the Road Traffic 1988, the Police had the power to stop vehicles which WRS officers did not possess.

 

Councillor M. T. Buxton queried why the Annual Report 2014/2015 had not included any reference to the successful introduction of the Site Management Agreement between Bromsgrove District Council and the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA); which regulated face to face fundraising by way of direct debit in Bromsgrove Town Centre.  For the benefit of new Licensing Committee Members, the Senior Licensing Practitioner gave a brief overview of the Site Management Agreement and in response to Councillor Buxton agreed this had been an oversight on his behalf. 

 

Members agreed that the Annual Report 2014/2015 be amended to include information on the Site Management Agreement between Bromsgrove District Council and the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA).

 

RESOLVED:

a)    that, as detailed in the preamble above, information on the Site Management Agreement between Bromsgrove District Council and the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) be included in the Annual Report 2014/2015;

b)    that the amended Annual Report 2014/2015 be issued as a supplementary agenda item; and

c)    that the Licensing Annual Report 2014/2015, as presented, be noted.

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