Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2019 were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public. Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to elaine.tibble@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by an officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. 

The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Monday 19th October 2020.

There were no statements or questions from Town and Parish Councils or Public at the meeting.

The Council, as Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003, is required to publish a Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy at least every three years. The purpose of the policy statement is to define how the Council will exercise its responsibilities under the Act. The draft policy has been prepared by officers, considered at an informal meeting of the Licensing Committee and has been published, in draft format, for a period of public consultation of 12 weeks.

The public consultation took place between 6^th July and 27^th September 2020.

The policy went before Place & Resources Overview Committee for comment on 19 October, and a verbal update will be given by officers at this meeting.

The reviewed Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy is before the committee for consideration prior to recommendation to Full Council for adoption.

­­

The Service Manager for Licensing and Community Safety presented the Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy 2021-2024.

He explained that this was Dorset Council’s first Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy.  A new policy for a new Council, which under the Gambling Act 2005 was required to be in place by 1 April 2021.  Prior to the formation of Dorset Council each of the predecessor District and Borough Councils had their own Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy and the best bits had been extracted for inclusion in the new policy.

A 12-week public consultation had taken place between 6th July and 27th September 2020, 7 responses had been received. 

The policy had been presented to the Place & Resources Overview Committee for comment on 19 October, a supplementary update with their comments had been published and circulated prior to this meeting.

A draft Equalities Impact Assessment was attached at Appendix B, a final version would be provided with the draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy, once approved, when it was presented to Full Council.

In response to a question regarding on-line gambling the Service Manager for Licensing and Community Safety advised that this was a huge problem nationally, but Local Councils did not have a regulatory role relating to on-line gambling, this was governed by the Gambling Commission.  Work was being carried out with the Chairman to raise awareness and tackle the unseen harm of gambling.  The Chairman was also liaising with local MPs on the issue.  The Service Manager for Licensing and Community Safety highlighted proposed amendments at 3.1, 3.5 and 21.4 in the report.  The documents would be proof- read prior to submission to Full Council.

The Chairman thanked those involved with the creation of the policy, the Place & Resources Overview Committee for their comments and the members of the public who responded to the consultation.

Proposed by Cllr Parker, Seconded by Cllr Andrews.

Decision:  That following review of the responses received during the consultation period, the inclusion of the proposed amendments to the draft policy and consideration of the comments received from the Place & Resources Overview Committee, the Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy was recommended to Full Council for adoption.

The Council, as Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003, is required to publish a Statement of Licensing Policy at least every five years. The purpose of the policy statement is to define how the Council will exercise its responsibilities under the Act. The draft policy has been prepared by officers, considered at an informal meeting of the Licensing Committee and has been published, in draft format, for a period of public consultation of 12 weeks.

The public consultation took place between 6^th July and 27^th September 2020.

The policy went before Place & Resources Overview Committee for comment on 19 October, and a verbal update will be given by officers at this meeting.

The reviewed Statement of Licensing Policy is before the committee for consideration prior to recommendation to Full Council for adoption.

The Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety presented the Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026.   This policy was a statutory requirement for public entertainment and alcohol sales.  As with the Gambling Policy this was also a completely new draft for the new Dorset Council, following a review of all the predecessor councils’ policies.

The public consultation took place between 6th July and 27th September 2020.

The policy went before Place & Resources Overview Committee for comment on 19 October and a supplement with their comments was published and circulated prior to this meeting.  The reviewed Statement of Licensing Policy was before the committee for consideration prior to recommendation to Full Council for adoption.

A draft Equalities Impact Assessment was attached at Appendix D and a final version would be provided with the draft Statement of Licensing Policy, once approved, when it was presented to Council.

A review of the predecessor Council’s licensing policies showed that there

was one Cumulative Impact Area in existence in the centre of

Weymouth, within the former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council area.

It was proposed to retain the existing Cumulative Impact Area in the new policy and up to date statistics had been included at Appendices B and C of the report, which indicated that there remained a negative cumulative impact of licensed premises and licensable activities within the area as previously identified. 

A total of 24 responses had been received during the consultation process.  Of the 24 responses, 16 were in favour of retaining the existing Cumulative Impact Area with 7 expressing a preference for it to potentially be expanded.

No respondents were in favour of removing the Cumulative Impact Area.

Amendments in the reports were highlighted and summarised and a set of model conditions had been included, which would prove useful when considering new applications.

In response to a member question relating to licensees the Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety informed the committee that strict measures had been put in place by the Licensing Team.  Robust inspections of licensed premises were being regularly carried out, last weekend there had been 40 inspection visits.  The Council had revoked a licence recently and were following the Police ideology of Engage, Encourage and Explain and Enforce when necessary.

The matter of a Late-Night Levy had been raised by the Place & Resources Overview Committee.  The Service Manager, Licensing and Community Safety reported that a Late-Night Levy, if agreed, would apply all premises in the Dorset Council area, although there was the ability to exclude certain types of premises.  This was a controversial matter and opposed from an economic point of view.  This would be a matter for the committee to decide if they felt this was appropriate.  He would work with the Licensing Team Leader to prepare a summary report of the number of premises involved, those which may surrender their late night licence if the levy was introduced, the financial implications and how proceeds would be shared between the relevant authorities.  He would bring this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There was no exempt business.