Agenda item - Chair's Communications

13.1    The Chair explained that she had met with Chief Inspector Di Lewis and Chief Inspector Lisa Bell and that these meetings had done much to reassure her about the revised structure within the Police Licensing Team which had come into operation in September. The new arrangements appeared to be working well and a good working relationship had been established with the Council’s own Licensing Team.

13.2    Improvements had been made to the internal layout of “Pryzm” in line with approvals granted at a Licensing Panel hearing and a successfully managed “safe space” had been provided at “Shooshh” where all entering that club had to pass through scanners.”Tempest was another club in the city which was also well managed.

13.3    Operation of robust policies in the city which were sensitively applied and the level of training required by establishments and provided to Members had been widely acknowledged. The city had been recognised as a “Beacon Authority” and had been consulted on and had taken a pro-active part in changes to be implemented to the existing Gambling Act legislation. The aim of the current review was to strike the right balance. There had been media interest in a number of issues in relation to licensing issues over recent months and the opportunity to discussion germane issues had been welcomed.

13.4    Elsewhere on the Agenda an update would be provided in relation to the House of Lord’s Select Committee report and the Government’s response to it. Some very sensible recommendations had been made by the Government, particularly in relation to TEN’s and training for both licensing committee members and the police. The Chair was delighted to be able to report that the impractical idea of planning committees taking over the role of licensing committees had been dropped.

13.5    RESOLVED – That the content of the Chair’s Communications be received and noted.