The panel noted the appointment of Councillor Rennie as Chair and Councillor Gordon as Vice Chair for the municipal year.

There were no declarations of interest.

Agreed that the following minutes of 14 February 2012 Licensing Committee and the 28 February 2012, 13 March 2012, 24 and 27 April 2012, 25 April 2012 and 29 May 2012 Licensing Sub Committee are approved.

There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business.

The Committee were presented with the Information Regarding Delegated Decisions for Applications for the Grant/Variation of Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates report.

Agreed that the report is noted.

Dave Hughes, Senior Environmental Health Officer (licensing) provided the Committee with an update on the Enforcement Activity Report.  The Committee was informed that –

(a)           they conducted a test purchase exercise and the results were disappointing.  It was reported that 9 betting shops allowed a 16 year old to access an age restricted gambling machine.  As a result a variety of measures were put in place to address the specific reasons for failure for each of the premises concerned;

(b)          the new Sex Establishment policy was agreed earlier this year.  Officers were in the process of discussing the new arrangements with operators that fall within the new provision;

(c)           members also approved the Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) for Tothill Park which would allow any issues to be dealt with before an offence was likely to occur;

(d)          a delegated report would be produced shortly on street and house collections.  The report would give flexibility to the council to respond to the new challenges.  The activities of face to face canvassers were managed by the City Centre team and they act as gatekeepers to manage the fundraising organisations to an agreed frequency and location;

(e)          the local authority were able to suspend a licence if the annual fee was not paid by the due date.  In the past businesses were allowed to continue operating even if they hadn’t paid their annual fee.  All licenced premises had been informed of the changes and all but one premise had paid.  This premise had now closed and normal debt recovery would apply;

(f)            further public consultation had taken place on the Late Night Levy. The consultation had evoked a variety of opinions on whether the levy was a viable prospect and careful consideration would be needed;

(g)           the support agencies would continue to contribute towards the Evening and Night Economy (ENTE).  Licensees, managers and staff were encouraged to attend Clubwatch and Pubwatch meetings;

(h)          the Gambling Policy was subject to review and would be ready for implementation end of January 2013;

In response to questions raised it was reported that -

(i)            the DPPO had been successful in the City Centre and Stonehouse neighbourhood.  A further DPPO was then agreed for Tothill Park and Freedom Fields;

(j)            before a DPPO is granted, the local police would firstly see if they could deal with the situation before progressing to a DPPO.  The evidence for a DPPO would need to show that the anti-social behaviour taking place was causing the local community problems;

(k)          contact had been made with an officer from public health protection in relation to making representations to licence applications.

There were no items of exempt business.