Decisions

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which provided an update on the outcome of the 8 week consultation undertaken on the review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy for the Licensing Act 2003.

The Licensing Act required each licensing authority to prepare and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy.  The policy statement sets out how the authority intends to approach its licensing responsibilities and in particular how it intends to promote the four licensing objectives. This policy has to be renewed every five years and be subject to a full consultation process.

The Council’s current Statement of Licensing Policy came into effect on 6 January 2016, to cover a period up to January 2021.  However, due to the pandemic, and on the advice of the Local Government Association (LGA), the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities approved the decision to delay the consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2021 – 2026, and the existing Statement of Licensing Policy was extended past 6 January 2021, until the draft policy has been consulted on and approved.

The Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities on 5 October 2020 and Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 6 October 2020 considered a report on the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy and authorised the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services to consult on its contents. The report outlined the comments received and proposed amendments to the Council’s draft Statement of Licensing Policy. The draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026, the summary of consultation responses and the main changes to the Statement of Licensing Policy were appended to the report.

This was the fourth Statement of Licensing Policy produced by the Licensing Authority under  the Licensing Act 2003. The general principles of the Licensing Policy remain the same and the document is centred around the Licensing Act's four licensing objectives, namely:

·  The prevention of crime and disorder;

·  Ensuring public safety

·  The prevention of public nuisance and

·  The protection of children from harm

The policy has been reviewed throughout to ensure consistency with the latest changes in legislation, regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.   

Following public consultation, the revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy was now ready to be recommended for adoption to take effect from 16th March 2021.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, having considered the results of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy consultation (Appendix B) and the revised Statement of Licensing Policy (Appendix A), confirmed that there were no comments to be notified to the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities.