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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Lowri Haf Evans Email: lowrihafevans@gwynedd.gov.uk  01286 679 878

Items
No. Item

1.

ELECT CHAIR

To elect a Chair for 2016/17

Minutes:

Resolved to elect Councillor Tudor Owen as Chair of this Committee for the period of 2016 - 2017.

 

Councillor Eryl Jones Williams was thanked for his work as Chair of the Committee for 2014 - 2016.

 

2.

ELECT VICE CHAIR

To elect a Vice Chair for 2016/17

Minutes:

Resolved to elect Councillor Annwen Hughes as Vice-chair of the Committee for the period of 2016 - 2017.

 

3.

APOLOGIES

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Peter Read and Wyn Williams and Geraint Brython (Solicitor).

 

4.

DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

 

Minutes:

No declarations of personal interest were received from any members present.

 

5.

URGENT ITEMS

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

Minutes:

None to note

6.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 127 KB

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 07.03.2016 be signed as a true record. 

Minutes:

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee that took place on 7 March 2016, as a true record subject to noting that Councillor Angela Russell was present.

         

 

7.

LICENSING SUB COMMITTEE MINUTES pdf icon PDF 235 KB

To submit, for information, minutes of the General Licensing Sub-committee meeting held on the following dates –

 

i.              09.02.2016

ii.             04.03.2016

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Submitted - for information, the minutes of the meetings of the Central Licensing Sub-committee held on 

 

07.03.16

05.04.16

 

8.

FILM CLASSIFICATION POLICY pdf icon PDF 116 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Regulatory Services

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

a)    Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulatory Department recommending that the Committee adopted the Film Classification Policy and that it approved charging a fee for the classification of films and administrating the process for the purpose of cost recovery only.

 

It was highlighted that Gwynedd Council as the Licensing Authority was responsible for authorising the public exhibition of films and in accordance with Section 20 of the Licensing Act 2003. It was noted that where a Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate authorised the exhibition of film(s), the licence must include a condition requiring the admission of children to films to be restricted in accordance with recommendations given either by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), or by the Licensing Authority. It was emphasised that the public exhibition of films on licensed premises must either be classified by the BBFC or authorised by the Licensing Authority under the powers of the Licensing Act 2003.

 

It was noted that the purpose of the Film Classification Policy was to formulate a formal system for the Licensing Authority to classify films. The most relevant main licensing objective was Protecting Children from Harm. Relevant guidelines to classify films as well as different situations where an application could be received were highlighted in the report.

 

In terms of order, it was noted that the power to authorise film classifications would be delegated by the Central Licensing Committee to the Head of the Regulatory Department. Once authorised by the Licensing Authority, a film would be authorised for a particular showing or festival only subject to the recommendations imposed by the Licensing Authority (unless further application for re-classification was made).

 

In the context of setting fees, it was highlighted that no statutory fee had been specified in legislation for the purpose of film classifications and that some Local Authorities charged fees for cost recovery only. It was considered reasonable to introduce a fee for the process which would reflect the cost of the time spent by an officer viewing the film as well as the cost of producing and processing the certificate.

 

b)    In response to a question, it was noted that the fee would vary and measured in the context of the film's duration. In terms of principle, there was no need to set a fee that was too high as there was a need to promote the exhibition of films but the principle of cost recovery must again be considered. It was suggested to charge a fee of £30 for producing and processing the certificate as well as the time spent by an officer viewing the film.

 

c)    In response to a question, it was noted that the policy would not have an impact of film nights in community halls provided that the hall had a licence. It was highlighted that it was the licence holder's responsibility to ensure that the licence was valid or to apply for a temporary event licence as well deciding how the event would be managed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

GAMBLING POLICY

Oral update from the Licensing Manager

Minutes:

a)    An oral update from the Licensing Manager was received, highlighting that the Gambling Policy had been completed (draft version). It was highlighted that area profiles had been created and submitted as an appendix to the policy. It was noted that no policy was available to be submitted to members as there was a need to ensure consistency with other councils in north Wales. It was noted that policies would be discussed at a regional meeting in order to ensure consistency and that work moved in the same direction.

 

b)    In the context of area profiles, it was revealed that these had not highlighted substantial problems such as crime and disorder hotspots as a result of gambling.

 

c)    During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual members:

·         Poor areas witnessed the biggest impact

·         Concern that gambling was easy to access

·         Too much advertisements involved with gambling on television that encouraged people to use their mobile phones to place a bet.

 

ch) It was proposed and seconded to place an item on the Committee’s agenda to encourage a discussion on gambling concerns with the aim of referring the observations to the Gambling Commission.

 

The observation was accepted and members were reminded that the minutes of this Committee would be made public. When the policy would be published, it was noted that individual members and/or the Committee would have the opportunity to submit observations.

 

RESOLVED to accept the information.