Agenda item - Annual Report of the Licensing Authority 2021/22

RESOLVED:

1.     That the committee notes the contents of this report.

2.     That officers should continue to monitor trends of applications and illegal activity to inform future policy.

7.1 Jim Whitelegg introduced the report starting on page 11 of the Agenda.

7.2 Councillor Ebel was informed that:

·       Incidents of drink spiking have decreased since early Spring 2022 after reaching its peak in October 2021.

·       Cases collated under operation Halifax are still being collected as a monitoring function.

·       Offenders have appeared to be operating in isolation instead of collectively.

·       There is no data about any arrests being made for drink spiking or any drugs confiscated.

7.3 Councillor Simson was informed that:

·       The lapsed licenses are varied, including a hotels, nightclubs, and cafes, but many of them instantly reapply sometimes the lapse is done inadvertently through Companies House.

·       A lot of surrendered licenses seem to come from restaurants.

·       The increase in restaurant licenses will be monitored and the Council are aware that this can be used to circumvent policy, and will ensure that restaurants are adhering to their conditions.

·       The Highways team has fed back that there aren’t any more complaints about outside seating on pavements than pre-covid, and that more businesses are applying for extension of the footways to allow for further outside seating but the majority of these are being refused.

7.4 Councillor Henry was informed that:

·       There were 37 applications within the Cumulative Impact Zone in 2020, and 26 in 2019.

·       If possible, statistics regarding pavement Licenses would be included in future reports.

7.5 Councillor Pissaridou suggested that drink spiking education should be happening in schools alongside colleges. She was informed that in 3.5.1 there are initiatives to educate about violence to women and girls, and Jim Whitelegg would check to see if this included education about drink spiking.

7.6 Councillor Moonan asked if going forward, reports could summarise information about applications in the Special Stress Area and Cumulative Impact Zone, so that information can be inferred about how well the Matrix is operating and to notify trends or patterns. Jim Whitelegg added that some applications that are submitted in the CIZ can be granted without any representations if it fits within policy.

7.7 Councillor Simson asked what the 11 applications were out of the 26 without representations in the CIZ that were not 4 pre-consulted, 5 time-limited, 3 shadow and 3 granted lapsed, and Sarah Cornell confirmed she would email Cllr Simson outside of the meeting with the response.

7.8 Councillor Hills was informed that:

·       The mandatory safeguarding training for taxi drivers was introduced 3 years ago and has to be undertaken once every 3 years.

·       The training has to be paid for by the taxi drivers, and is mandatory upon renewal of their license.

7.9 Councillor Pissaridou was informed that applications are advertised via a statutory process – it is referred to the 9 responsible authorities such as environmental health and the police, after which there is a 28 day consultation period, and a an a4 blue notice is put up on the premises and put into the local newspaper. There is also a weekly list which is circulated to all Councillors on upcoming applications.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the committee noted the contents of this report.

2.    That officers should continue to monitor trends of applications and illegal activity to inform future policy.

·       Sarah Cornell to respond to Councillor Simson regarding the 11 applications in the CIZ.