Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Judith Pleasance and Caroline Addy.

There were no declarations.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 16 July 2020 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

The Order of the Court of Common Council dated 16 July 2020 appointing the Committee for the ensuing year was received.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No.29.

An election of Chairman was conducted in line with Standing Order 29. Sophie Fernandes, being the only Member indicating a willingness to serve, was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. 

The Chairman thanked Members and ahead of the election for a Deputy Chairman, the Chairman thanked the outgoing Deputy Chairman for all of his help and support

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. 

A list of Members eligible to stand was read and, with both Shravan Joshi and James Tumbridge expressing willingness to serve, an electronic ballot was held.

Votes were cast as follows:                Shravan Joshi                         –          9 votes

                                                            James Tumbridge                   –          4 votes

Shravan Joshi was therefore duly elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

Mr Joshi thanked the Committee for their confidence and echoed the Chairman’s thanks to the outgoing Deputy Chairman.

To appoint four Members, in addition to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Past Grand Committee Chairmen, to chair Licensing (Hearing) Sub Committee meetings and serve on the Reference Sub Committee for the ensuing year.

The Committee proceeded to appoint four Licensing (Hearing) Sub Committee Chairmen for the ensuing year, in addition to the current Chairman and Deputy Chairman and Past Grand Committee Chairmen.

The following five Members declared a willingness to serve on the Reference Sub Committee and to serve as Sub Committee Chairmen: Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark, Michael Hudson, Deputy Keith Bottomley, Graham Packham and James Tumbridge. The Committee agreed to increase the number of Members from four to five and a ballot was therefore not required.

RESOLVED – That the Licensing (Hearing) Sub Committee Chairmen and the Reference Sub Committee for 2020/21 comprise of the following Members:

• Sophie Fernandes (Chairman)
• Shravan Joshi (Deputy Chairman)
• Kevin Everett (Past Grand Committee Chairman)
• Marianne Fredericks (Past Grand Committee Chairman)
• Peter Dunphy (Past Grand Committee Chairman)
• Michael Hudson
• Deputy Jamie Ingham Clark
• Deputy Keith Bottomley
• James Tumbridge
• Graham Packham

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2020.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2020 were approved as a correct record.

Members noted the public minutes of the Daisy Green hearing on 12 August 2020.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor to be heard.

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

Oral update on the latest position.

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Committee received an oral update from the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection providing Members with an update on the current situation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Key legislative changes:

Members were advised that two key legislative changes had been brought in since the last meeting; the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020 was amended on 24 September and the 12 October saw the introduction of the three tiers of system of local Covid Alert Levels in England set at medium, high, and very high.

Alongside this, the Chancellor also confirmed that the Government would expand its economic support to assist those affected by the decisions made in the upper tier. This included extending the Job Support Scheme to cover two-thirds of the wages of those in any business that is required to close. For tier 1 and 2 businesses, they would face restrictions but no financial support.

London was classed in the medium tier 1 and would continue to be subject to national restrictions. It was acknowledged, however, that this would likely change within the next week.

The following key factors were highlighted as affecting the hospitality sector:

·         Face coverings, staff and customer

·         Rule of 6

·         Seated service and consumption, no vertical drinking

·         22:00 curfew

·         Mandatory spacing between seats and tables

·         Test and trace

A joint City of London Police and City of London Corporation short summary of the requirements of the new regulations was circulated to all businesses and published on the COL website which was circulated to Members. For consistency, both have adopted the Police’s 4E’s approach when dealing with businesses (Engage, Explain, Educate, Enforcement) with Enforcement being the last resort. Powers have been enhanced and are available should they be required with escalating levels of fines and direction

Report of the Chamberlain.

Members considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the resetting of departmental Budgets 2020/21.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Licensing Committee note the recommended budget adjustments of £156K for Markets & Consumer Protection.

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 2020.

A Member noted that the figures in the table

RECEIVED.

The Chief Superintendent, City of London Police to be heard.

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

(N.B. – To be read in conjunction with the non-public appendix at Item 19).

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2020.

To be read in conjunction with Item 14.