Agenda item - Future Licensing Panel Hearing arrangements

Report of the Executive Lead, Strategy, Governance and Law (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee delegate authority to the Executive Lead for Strategy Governance and Law after consultation with the Chair and group spokespersons to determine arrangements for Licensing Panel hearings for 1 August 2021 until the next Licensing Committee in October 2021; and

(2) That the Committee recommends that in exercising this authority the above office tales into account all relevant factors including latest public health and government guidance and the need to ensure fair and transparent procedures in accordance with the Hearings Regulations 2005.

9.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Lead, Strategy, Governance and Law setting out the position in relation to the conduct of Licensing Panels convened under the Licensing Act 2003 (Licensing Panels).

9.2      The report proposed that members delegated authority to senior officers after consultation with lead members to determine the future of conduct of Licensing Panels after the end of July 2021 until review at the next committee in October 2021. The intention was to build flexibility into the arrangements and be able to respond the latest public health and government advice.

9.3      Councillor Simson stated that whilst she was happy to agree to the current arrangements remaining in place pro-tem. Her preference however was to return to actual face to face meetings as soon as it was practicable to do so and for the situation to be kept under review in the light of  decisions taken by the councils itself and by national government. The other Members present considered that could be when the position had been reached of all Members and the majority of members of the public having received both vaccinations and were in agreement that the  situation needed to be kept under review.

9.4      RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee delegate authority to the Executive Lead for Strategy Governance and Law after consultation with the Chair and group spokespersons to determine arrangements for Licensing Panel hearings for 1 August 2021 until the next Licensing Committee in October 2021; and

          (2) That the Committee recommends that in exercising this authority the above office takes into account all relevant factors including latest public health and government guidance and the need to ensure fair and transparent procedures in accordance with the Hearings Regulations 2005.