Agenda item - Chair's Communications

            Alcohol Licensing in the City

23.1    The Chair stated that the Committee had the Annual Review report before them that day and what was most noticeable wasthe number of cafes now applying for an alcohol license as the number has tripled since 2015. This rising number had been raised by the police who saw it as a worrying trend. The Chair was sure that this would be discussed fully when the Committee considered that item on the agenda.

23.2    Most cafes applied in the CIZ but this was also occurring also in other areas of the city. This is worrying when it was a chain of cafes.

23.3    The restructuring of the Police Licensing Team seemed to be settling down. Members were getting to know the new team at panels and they had been most co-operative and supportive of council policy.

23.4    Operation Marble continued to work effectively and the Chair was delighted that that Beach patrol had been extended to the east side of the pier due to some extra funding as there were some serious issues in that area.

Pride Tens

23.5    It was noted that TEN applications would be submitted for this very shortly

            Congratulations to Licensing Team

23.6    The Chair was sure that the Committee would like to congratulate Jim Whitelegg on some excellent work in the area of Gambling Policy. It was great to have received national recognition for his work in the city.

23.7    The Chair concluded by stating that she would also like to congratulate the licensing team for all their work on the “Sensible on Strength Scheme”. We now had one of the highest number of licensed premises signed up to the scheme in any city in the country.

23.8    RESOLVED – That the contents of the Chair’s Communications be received and noted.