Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Craig ab Iago, Annwen Hughes, Louise Hughes, Dilwyn Lloyd and Peter Read.

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received from any members present

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

Nothing to note

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 3.11.15 be signed as a true record. 

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee, held on 3 November 2015, as a true record

To submit the report of the Head of Regulatory Department

A report was submitted by the Licensing Manager setting background information for the public statutory consultation that was held between 4 and 24 November. Reference was made to a hand-out that summarised the details of the consultation. 

It was noted that the Licensing Unit had received one response to the consultation from the Senior Policy and Research Officer at Alcohol Concern Cymru, Cardiff. It was confirmed that the observations received had been very useful and the Committee was asked to consider them. 

The first observation was that there was an opportunity for the authority to note that Public Health, although it was not one of the licensing objectives, was important to the authority and it was suggested that the wording of the policy should be modified in order to encourage applicants to show in their operating schedule how they would contribute to the Council's aim of promoting a healthier lifestyle.

In response to the observation, the members intimated that highlighting concerns like this was encouraging and the need to modify the wording of 2.14 of the policy was accepted. 

The second observation was including an appendix that listed the robust conditions that could be set on licences in order to prevent irresponsible alcohol promotions and displays. It was noted that the policy wording was acceptable and in accordance with the Act, and that the Licensing Authority should not utilise standard conditions. 

The third observation made was a request to include more statistics in the policy, but it was highlighted that the relevant supplement had been prepared jointly with other Local Councils across North Wales, and it was decided not to modify the wording.

It was confirmed that a response had been sent to Alcohol Concern Cymru acknowledging their observations, and a further response of the decision would be sent by letter to the respondent.

RESOLVED

a)    ACCEPT MODIFICATION TO PARAGRAPH 2.14 OF THE STATEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OBSERVATIONS RECEIVED

b)   APPROVE THE STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FULL COUNCIL ON 10 DECEMBER 2015.

To receive an update from the Licensing Manager

a)    A verbal update from the Licensing Manager was received in the context of changes to activities that were considered as regulated entertainment. At a Central Licensing Committee meeting held on 9th March 2015, particular attention was drawn to the amendment,

‘No licence is required between 8am and 11pm on any day, with no limit on audience size for any entertainment taking place on the premises of the local authority where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the local authority'

Members were reminded of their decision for the Licensing Department to contact the Education Department to highlight the changes together with the conditions (out of hours only) as there was potential here to save £16k a year in licensing payments (as every school licence was 24hrs, and the Education Department owned each licence).

In response to that decision, it was noted that the Licensing Department had mailed every school in Gwynedd and had received 10 responses to date. It was confirmed that the Licensing Department would continue to remind others to respond. 

b)    At a Central Licensing Committee meeting held on 22 June 2015, it had been highlighted that the Deregulation Act 2015 dealt with a wide variety of measures and included measures that affected ‘alcohol, sport and entertainment' and specifically the Licensing Act 2003. It was noted that the amendments would be introduced gradually.

One of the recent amendments (coming into force 1.10.15) was giving powers to Licensing Units to exempt hot food supplies, with specific guidelines for implementing this. It was also noted that the Local Authority would be able to set a specific area / or a designated description e.g. petrol stations, Local authority premises less than 500, schools less than 500, hospitals, halls, churches, premises that were designated to sell alcohol. It was confirmed, if the Council were to decide to utilise these powers, then a consultation process would have to be followed in order to share information in terms of setting designated areas. It was noted that the Council had not set designated areas and that this had been noted in the revised policy. 

In response to the observation, it was noted that this was a substantial piece of work and that there was a need to hold discussions with councils across North Wales and Nationally to see developments before progressing.

RESOLVED to accept the information and a request was made for the Licensing Unit to give an update on every revision / consultation as they come into force.