To receive the report of the Principal Licensing Officer in respect of the Local Authority’s Safety Advisory Group.

RECEIVED the report of the Principal Licensing Officer.

NOTED

1.    The introduction by Esther Hughes (Chair of LB Enfield Safety Advisory Group (SAG)) of the report produced in response to councillors’ requests for more information in respect of their advice being provided to Licensing Sub-Committees (LSC).

2.    The template to collate the SAG advice was a work in progress, and the latest draft was circulated to Members for feedback. This tried to draw out the pertinent points to help the LSC in making decisions.

3.    Important points were the date of the SAG meeting and the representatives of the event in attendance.

4.    SAG meetings were scheduled every third Tuesday of the month, to ensure attendance by all key partners, including Police and Emergency Planning.

5.    It was aimed to bring events for consideration by SAG in good time to then be able to pass advice to LSC.

6.    SAG would consider anything pertinent to the licensing objectives or anything giving concern, or outstanding. The consideration of crime and disorder issues fell to the Police at SAG. Public safety considerations fell mainly to Environmental Health, including traffic management. A lot of events had been running for some years and the authorities had built up a good relationship with the organisers and focus would be on trying to control factors outside the event. Prevention of public nuisance was important, particularly how noise and disturbance could be minimised and managed so there was not severe detrimental impact.

7.    SAG would give a recommendation to object or to grant with conditions. The industry guidance (purple guide) was used by SAG as a benchmark.

8.    There would be an agreed date for a final event management plan to be submitted, recognising the need for some flexibility around this. The basic plan would be published, but it would be the case that some sensitive information may need to be not disclosed.

9.    Details of how an event would be monitored were important. There would always be clear lines of communication, and real-time communications. There would always be Parks staff in place, and the Council was looking to skill up staff with more environmental health knowledge and awareness to help in monitoring.

10. The Chair confirmed his preference for the SAG information to be provided to Members by being handed out to LSC on the day of a hearing.

11. The taking of a higher bond from event organisers was discussed, with a greater amount subsequently to be given back for good behaviour.

12. In response to Members’ queries, it was advised that the notification letters sent to residents by the Parks Department would be improved and would set out the grounds on which objections could be submitted.

13. The advice from SAG would provide evidence to demonstrate that the responsible authorities had given full consideration to licence applications and should assure residents and ward councillors that background work had been done and that all concerns were taken seriously.

14. Members approved the proposed procedure and that the template included the information required by LSC.