Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Peter Dunphy, Caroline Addy, Deputy Keith Bottomley, Karina Dostalova, John Fletcher, Marianne Fredericks, Shravan Joshi and Judith Pleasance,

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2019.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2019 were approved as a correct record.

The Port Health & Public Protection Director to be heard.

Members received a verbal update from the Port Health & Public Protection Director concerning Brexit planning.

Members were advised that the outcome of the 31 October 2019 deadline was still being awaited and the Department would report as appropriate concerning any impacts once the outcome was clear.

To receive the public minutes of the Hearing in respect of the application for Gremio de Fenchurch, 26A Savage Gardens, London, EC3N 2AR on 5 July 2019.

Members noted the public minutes of the Gremio de London Ltd hearing on 5 July 2019.

Members were advised that the Global Grange Limited Hearing was cancelled following an agreement reached between objector (Environmental Health) and the Applicant.

To receive the public minutes of the Hearing in respect of the application for Wework, 1 Fore Street, London, EC2Y 5EJ on 6 August 2019.

Members noted the public minutes of the WeWork WW Moor Place Ltd hearing on 6 August 2019.

To receive the public minutes of the Hearing in respect of the application for Stem & Glory, 60 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7BF on 6 August 2019.

Members noted the public minutes of the Stem & Glory hearing on 6 August 2019.

To receive the public minutes of the Hearing in respect of the application for Daisy Green, 2 London Wall Place, EC2Y 5DH on 13 August 2019.

Members noted the public minutes of the Daisy Green Food Ltd hearing on 13 August 2019.

A Member of the Sub Committee panel noted that the Applicant had submitted a noise assessment providing ambient noise data, etc, which was very useful.

The Member also noted that the circumstances concerning music entertainment had changed. Applicants were no longer required to obtain a licence to put on live music/play recorded music if it takes place between 8am and 11pm, takes place at an alcohol on-licensed premises and the audience is no more than 500 people. A licence was also not required for unamplified live music at any place between the same hours or amplified live music at a workplace between the same hours and provided the audience is no more than 500 people.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor to be heard.

The Comptroller & City Solicitor advised the Committee that there were currently no appeals.

The co-founder of Club Soda to be heard.

The Committee received a presentation by Club Soda providing an evaluation and next steps for the initiative since the City of London Corporation provided funding to develop the Club Soda Guide in 2018.

·         The mission for Club Soda is to create a world where nobody has to feel out of place if they are not drinking.

·         Th number of City venues signed up have more than doubled with 235 since the pilot.

·         City Corporation venues have a higher mean score (3.48) than the national average (3.32), and a higher percentage of venues which score the maximum of 5 (42% as compared to 35% nationally).

·         Members were shown postcards, leaflets and guides which were distributed at venues, trade talks and workplaces advocating mindful drinking. The Chairman found these useful and requested that some be made available at the Safety Thirst Awards ceremony.

·         An initiative, Rebel AF, was trialled at Bournemouth University advocating mindful drinking and it was hoped this would be brought to other UK universities.

·         Next steps with the City Corporation included continuing to work with the City on how to use the Guide as part of the night time economy, the possibility of designating the City of London Corporation as the UKs first mindful drinking place, and additional research and campaign ideas that have come from the Guide work in the City including work with caterers, workplaces and universities to encourage and promote more mindful drinking.

·         Members were advised that the seventh Club Soda Mindful Drinking Festival would take place on 18-19 January 2020 at the Old Truman Brewery.

·         Club Soda would be publishing the book How to be a Mindful Drinker in time for Christmas.

·         A Member noted that the location maps on the guide were not working on safari.

·         The Chairman confirmed that the City Corporation was

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk concerning the challenges faced in the City by visitors of the London Marathon and provides a solution through a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to help us deal with the recurring issues of violent disorder and antisocial behaviour (ASB) taking place during the event.

Members were advised that this was the first PSPO requested by the City Corporation which it hoped would help manage issues of intoxication and ASB experienced in the City during the last London Marathon. It was noted that other Local Authorities had stronger powers to support Police in dealing with these issues.

In response to concerns that the PSPO would mean disorder in other areas, Members were advised that the Order would be City-wide. Members were keen that St Pauls and Paternoster Square be covered.      

A Member noted that ASB was not covered as a licensable activity that the Committee had control over under its Terms of Reference. Members agreed for a recommendation to be made to the Court that the Committee’s constitution in its Terms of Reference be updated to include ASB. The Town Clerk agreed to update the Terms of Reference for Court in April 2020.

RESOLVED – That:-

·         Members consider the report and support the Safer City Partnership in asking the Court of Common Council to approve a PSPO to deal with the issues associated with the London Marathon;

·         The Terms of Reference of the Committee be updated to include ABS for submission to the Court in April 2020;

·         Any further changes in the lead up to the Court’s appointment of Committees be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection providing Members with an update on the Traffic Light Scheme amendments now including immigration offences and cleansing offences in connection with licensable activities.

Members were advised that minor amendments were made to the scheme based on monthly data capturing incidents for consideration concerning cleansing/dumped rubbish and immigration issues. Members were supportive of the amendments and requested that traders be informed of the changes.

RESOLVED – That Members note the amendments to the Scheme.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection outlining the proposed actions to be taken by the Licensing Team in order to address the recommendations of the City’s Night Time Economy (NTE) report focussing around the areas of cumulative impact, the advent of Crossrail, City of London drinking culture and the collection of data for analysis.  

Members were advised that this was a follow up report to the NTE exercise looking at the data and next steps. It was noted that a number of recommendations were already being progressed, e.g. the Licensing Team were developing maps and installation of a Police CCTV van in Bishopsgate had been approved. Members agreed with the recommendations proposed within the report.  

RESOLVED – That Members:-

·         Agree the actions to be taken by the Licensing Team outlined in paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 14, 18 and 19 of this report;

·         Note that a further report will be submitted to the next Licensing Committee with an update of the progress made against the proposed actions.

Report of the Chief Superintendent, City of London Police.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Superintendent regarding violent crime from licensed premises during the period July to September 2019.

Members were advised that this period had reflected a decreased trend for crime offences in and outside licensed premises.

With regards to the request that the Committee be provided with a full year of the data which would be helpful for identifying trends, Members were advised that this had not been possible on this occasion as the data analyst was sick and the annual data would be provided at the next meeting.

Members were advised that the percentages breakdown for the Reasons for VAP Offences at Licensed Premises table were as follows: 67% alcohol, 17% drugs/alcohol, 12% unknown, 3% alcohol with racial prejudice and 1% alcohol with sexual orientation.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chief Superintendent, City of London Police.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Superintendent providing Members with a breakdown of the spending of the Late Night Levy from the City of London Police.

Members were advised that Inspector Jo Northmore was now in place as the new Licensing Inspector and that £43k had been approved for a CCTV van which would be in place for the upcoming Christmas period.

Members struggled to interpret the data provided in two tables and asked for this to be simplified. Members were advised that the two schedules covered the Levy year start in October and the normal annual year start. It was agreed that a table presenting the Levy year was satisfactory providing data for the last two years with the most recent data in the left column. A Member also asked that blank pages be removed. Officers agreed to update how the data was presented as recommended.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

(N.B. – To be read in conjunction with the non-public appendix at Item 18)

The Committee noted a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding the delegated decisions of the Director pertaining to premises licences.

Members were advised that there were two premises classified as ‘red’ and both should be downgraded by the next quarter.

A Member noted that Bishopsgate had more new applications than the other Wards put together which reinforced the need to look at the area and carry out a cumulative report of the area. The Town Clerk agreed to circulate information to Members concerning the offer to go out with the City of London Police one evening to experience the night time economy.

A Member was concerned that 19 premises were not paying the fee and had received a ‘Live’ Suspension. Members were advised that most premises paid as soon as they received the notice letter. It was noted that premises that were suspended could not operate and would be prosecuted if caught trading without paying the fee.  

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

The Chairman requested that the Town Clerk provide Members with an update regarding the following:

·         The Safety Thirst Awards ceremony will take place on 5 November 2019 in the Livery Hall and Crypts at 3.15-5.15pm.

·         The postcards/leaflets/guides shown during the Club Soda presentation can be requested from Club Soda or found on the website: https://www.clubsodaguide.com/.  

·         Members to inform the Town Clerk if they are interested in receiving BIIAB Certification licensing training.  

·         A training session regarding Equalities and Public Sector Equalities Duty in Licensing Decisions will take place at Guildhall on 25 October 2019 at 11am- 2pm.

·         If Members wish to report anything at a licensed premises within the City, please contact: Guildhall number 24/7 (except Christmas Day) 020 7606 3030 or email licensing@cityoflondon.gov.uk.   

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 16 July 2019.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2019 were approved as a correct record.

To be read in conjunction with Item 13..

The Committee received a non-public appendix report to the report under agenda item 13 pertaining to premises licenses which included the names of each premises.

There was one question.

There was none.