Agenda item - Annual Report of the Licensing Authority 2022/23

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.

8.1 The Chair invited Sarah Cornell to introduce the report starting on page 19 of the Agenda.

8.2 Councillor Daniel was informed that:

·       The Protect Duty (Martin’s Law) was introduced on 19 December 2022, in response to the Manchester Arena terror attack, which obligates commercial events and venues to have procedures in place to recognise and counter terror activity.

·       The amount of temporary event notices (TENs) has stayed relatively the same except for the years during COVID.

·       There hasn’t been an increase in drink spiking over the last year – potentially due to the raising awareness and schemes put in place.

·       Some of the safeguarding initiatives in the report were funded through monies received from the Home Office for the Safer Streets funding, and there is likely to be further funding coming.

8.3 Councillor Fowler was informed that there have been no major incidents of needle spiking, and the reports are checked and analysed every week by Sussex Police.

8.4 Councillors Robinson, Pickett, and Sheard were informed that:

·       Some premises are flagged due to intel that indicates they may be selling alcohol to underage people, explaining the high failure rate.

·       The Council offers training to premises to combat underage sales of alcohol.

·       Neither the Council nor Police would publish details of which premises have failed underage drinking tests.

Jo Player to give a written response to Councillor Daniel and all Committee members regarding the actions under 3.5.3 in the report, and which ones have been/will be actioned.

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.