Issue - meetings

This report asks Council to consider the comments received following the public consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy together with the comments of the Licensing and Safety Committee and to approve the Statement of Licensing Policy.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the proposal for a revised Statement of Licensing Policy following the public consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy together with the comments of the Licensing and Safety Committee.

Details of the consultation were set out in section 3 of the report and the comments of the Licensing and Safety Committee were set out in section 4 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

The Chairman of the Licensing and Safety Committee, Councillor Mrs Diane Chambers, supported by Councillor Carr, proposed the recommendation as set out in the report.

Members placed on record their thanks to Alison Poulson, Licensing and Local Land Charges Manager, who was retiring at the end of the month after 39 years’ service with Medway Council and Gillingham Borough Council.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Licensing and Safety Committee, as set out in section 4 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the draft Statement of Licensing Policy for use from 1 May 2018, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

This report requests the Committee to consider the comments received following the public consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy and to make recommendations to Council on 26 April 2018.

Discussion:         

The Licensing and Local Land Charges Manager advised that consultation had consisted of the following:

·         A 12 week consultation period (from 1 November to 31 January), details of which had been advertised in the press, on the Council website and at all Council Hubs and Libraries.

·         Letters/emails had been sent advertising the consultation, with the web link to the document, to all Medway councillors and MP’s, responsible authorities and existing licensed premises.

·         Two days of drop in sessions at St Georges Centre where officers were present to answer any questions.

·         Officer attendance at the following meetings in order to detail the changes being made and the introduction of the Cumulative Impact Policies.

·         7 November – Medway Licenced Victuallers Association.

·         23 November – Chatham High Street PACT meeting

·         5 December – Brompton PACT meeting

·         7 December – All Saints PACT meeting

·         11 January – Rochester City Centre Forum Meeting

Twenty responses to the consultation had been received, the contents of which were detailed at Appendix B.

A diversity Impact assessment had also been carried out and was detailed at Appendix C.

Members welcomed the draft Statement of Licensing Policy which they considered to be well written as well as incorporating lessons learned during the lifetime of the current policy. Whilst the number of people who had responded to the consultation was low this was not a result of a lack of effort in attempting to engage with the public. Moreover, Members commented that they were satisfied that, based on their discussions with constituents, there was general support amongst Medway residents for the revised draft policy. 

Decision: 

The Committee agreed to recommend approval of the draft Statement of Licensing Policy to Council on 26 April 2018 for use from 1 May 2018.