Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Graham Packham, James Tumbridge (the Chair) and Ceri Wilkins.

The Chair was unable to attend the meeting in person and joined the meeting virtually. In the absence of the Chair, the Deputy Chair chaired the meeting under Standing Order 30.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 12 October 2022.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 12 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the public minutes of the adjourned licensing hearing in respect of the premises the Sisi’s, 7-9 Saint Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AS on 4 November 2022.

The Committee received the public minutes of the licensing hearing in respect of the premises of Sisi’s, 7-9 Saint Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AS held on 4 November 2022.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive the public minutes of the licensing hearing in respect of the premises the Sisi’s, 7-9 Saint Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AS on 22 November 2022.

The Committee received the public minutes of the licensing hearing in respect of the premises Sisi’s, 7-9 Saint Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AS held on 22 November 2022.

The Chair of the Licensing (Hearing) Sub-Committee outlined two factors which complicated this licensing hearing. First, the presentation of the application by the applicant’s representative. Secondly, that the complaints of the objectors were of private nuisance rather than public nuisance.

The Chair of the Licensing Committee informed the Committee that Officers would be reviewing the model conditions and that this would provide an opportunity for Members to refresh their knowledge.

A Member stated that the model conditions should reflect the City Corporation’s leisure programme, Destination City.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive the public minutes of the adjourned licensing hearing in respect of the premises the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, One Bartholomew Close, Barts Square, City of London, EC1A 7BL on 4 January 2023.

The Committee received the public minutes of the adjourned licensing hearing in respect of the premises the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, One Bartholomew Close, Barts Square, City of London, EC1A 7BL held on 4 January 2023.

The Licensing (Hearing) Sub-Committee informed the Committee that the end times initially proposed for licensable activities were not appropriate for the area of the business and that it was unfortunate that the applicant did not utilise the pre-application process, which would have highlighted this.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor to be heard.

The Comptroller & City Solicitor advised the Committee that there had been no appeals against Licensing (Hearing) Sub-Committee decisions.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Report of the Executive Director Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director Environment detailing the premises licences, and variations to premises licences, granted under the Licensing Act 2003 and administered by the Licensing Service from 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2022.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Executive Director Environment.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Executive Director Environment presenting for approval the revenue budgets for the Licensing Committee for 2023/24.

Members noted that the Executive Director Environment was still identifying savings and were concerned that the Committee was being asked to approve an incomplete report. The Committee was informed that it was not unusual for committees to receive financial reports with savings yet to be identified. It was noted that Members could approve the report and request updates at future meetings to scrutinise any additional savings proposals.

The Committee remained concerned that Officers were not able to provide assurances that future savings would not be sourced from licensing services. As such, the Committee decided not to approve the recommendations in the report due to a lack of information about the savings proposals.

RESOLVED – That authority be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Licensing Committee, to consider the report when the further clarity on the unidentified savings was provided.

Report of the Executive Director Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment setting out the high-level business plan for the Environment Department for 2023/24.

The Committee expressed its discomfort at approving the business plan for areas of the Environment Department outside of licensing.

Members discussed the importance of striking the right balance between providing too much or too little licensing information within the high-level business plan. A Member stated that the plan was useful in ensuring that the disparate areas of the Environment Department were working towards the same goals. Members agreed that the plan in its current form did not contain enough information about how licensing contributes to the overall Environment Department strategy.

The Committee requested that an annex or sub-section focusing on licensing be added to the report and brought to a future meeting.

The Chair informed the Committee that he, the Deputy Chair and Officers in the Environment Department would explore how the Licensing Committee could be more involved in setting the licensing strategy in the future.

RESOLVED, that Members –

·         Note the factors taken into consideration in compiling the Environment Department Business Plan; and

·         Approve, subject to the incorporation of any changes sought by this Committee, the elements of the departmental high-level Business Plan 2023/24 which fall within the remit of the Licensing Committee.

Report of the Executive Director Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director Environment examining the eighth year of operation of the late-night levy.

The Chair informed the Committee that Officers would explore how to utilise any underspend from the late-night levy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Executive Director Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment proposing the annual fees for premises requiring a licence under the Gambling Act 2005 for the period of 2023 to 24.

Members were informed that the incorrect appendix to the report had been included within the agenda pack. As Members had therefore not had adequate opportunity to review the proposed fees, it was decided that the report would be considered at the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Committee would consider the report at the next Licensing Committee meeting.

Report of the Executive Director Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment proposing the annual fees for those premises requiring a licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as a sex establishment for the period of 2023 to 24.

The Deputy Chair reminded the Committee that there was a 0 number limit of sexual entertainment venues within the City. It was confirmed that there were no applications in progress.

RESOLVED - That Members agree the proposed fees for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Report of the Commissioner of the City of London Police.

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner of the City of London Police providing the Quarter 4 update for 2022.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner of the City of London Police providing an update on the Operation Reframe event, which took place on 3 December.

Members were informed that the next Operation Reframe was planned for 24 February and that the City of London Police were working with Transport for London (TfL) on the theme of getting home safely after a night out.

In response to a query from a Member, the Committee was informed that drink spiking has been witnessed on CCTV.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2022.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

One questions was raised.

There was no urgent business.