Agenda item

To receive the report of the Director of Regeneration and Environment to consider the responses to the public consultation on the Council’s Licensing Policy statement and to approve policy recommendations for adoption by Council.

SENT TO FOLLOW

RECEIVED the report of the Director of Regeneration and Environment.

NOTED

1.  The introduction by the Principal Licensing Officer, including:

a.  Following the meeting of the Licensing Committee in July, a borough-wide public consultation was conducted between August and October in respect of the Council’s Licensing Policy Statement.

b.  A 5^th edition of the Licensing Policy Statement must be approved by full Council by/in January 2015.

c.  Approximately 1,000 people were invited to respond to the consultation. 27 responses were received to the consultation, which was a 2.8% return. Details of the responses were set out in Annex D to the report.

d.  The context and operation of the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) within the Licensing Policy Statement was set out on pages 7 – 8 of the report.

e.  The Licensing Authority and the Police considered the CIP helpful, and that it enabled more effective negotiations with applicants.

2.  Councillors Jiagge and Savva arrived at the meeting.

3.  Members’ debate, and responses to questions raised, including:

a.  Members’ concern regarding the low rate of response to the consultation. It was confirmed that 76 Residents’ Associations and almost 800 businesses had been written to directly. The level of response was not inconsistent with other public consultations. There were responses from the Police Service and the Licensing Authority: this was significant as they were the two main bodies who were consulted on all licensing applications.

b.  It was noted that 27 people in total responded, but not everyone answered every question.

c.  It was noted that a majority were in favour of retaining the Enfield Town CIP.

d.  The consensus of the responsible authorities regarding extending all core hours to 00:00 was noted. They did not believe that the licensing objectives would be compromised by a 00:00 terminal hour.

e.  It was noted that updated evidence from the Police, showing alcohol related crimes recorded in the CIP zones, was included on pages 45 – 51 of the agenda pack.

f.  It was noted that the Police had not asked for any new CIP areas to be designated.

g.  The Committee asked that the Police look at the alcohol related crimes recorded in the rest of the borough in comparison to the CIP areas, and report this evidence back.

h.  Confirmation that the Council had to legally adopt the Licensing Policy Statement  by January. The Council could amend its policy in future as necessary.

i.  The Committee unanimously approved the report recommendations.

AGREED that the Licensing Committee considered the report and recommended to Council:

1)    To approve the continuance of the Cumulative Impact Policy within the Council’s Licensing Policy Statement under the Licensing Act 2003.

2)    To approve the retention of the four Cumulative Impact Policy areas.

3)    To approve the retention of the midnight terminal hour for restaurants, take-aways, plays, films and indoor sports within the Cumulative Impact Policy areas.

4)    To approve the extension of the terminal hour for pubs/bars, off licences & music and/or dancing within the Cumulative Impact Policy areas from 11pm to midnight.

5)    To approve the removal of Section 15 (Olympics & Paralympics) from the Licensing Policy Statement.