Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from The Chief Commoner Deputy Peter Dunphy, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Deputy Marianne Fredericks, Graham Packham and Jason Pritchard.

There were no declarations.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 25^th April 2024, appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

The Committee received an Order of the Court of Common Council dated 25th April, appointing the Committee and setting its terms of reference for the ensuing year.

RECEIVED

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chair in accordance with Standing Order No 29.

James Tumbridge, being the only Member expressing their willingness to serve, was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

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

Deputy John Fletcher, being the only Member expressing their willingness to serve, was duly elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

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

The Committee was asked to appoint four Members to the Licensing Hearings Sub Committee, noting that this would be in addition to the appointment Chairman, Deputy Chairman and past Committee Chairmen.

The Town Clerk asked Members to note the amendments to standing orders, whereby the previous practice of allowing additional Members onto Sub Committees, in order to avoid a ballot, should be by exception and only if it is in the best interests of the Committee and the Sub Committee.

However, Members agreed that, in the case of Licensing Hearings, which are often called at short notice and take place during recess periods, a larger pool of Members is desirable.

RESOLVED, that – the following Members be appointed to the Licensing Hearing Sub Committee, together with the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and any past Committee Chairmen:

Brendan Barns

Mary Durcan

Michael Hudson

Luis Tilleria

David Sales

Ceri Wilkins

The Chairman took the opportunity to thank the Committee for their trust in his re-appointment for another term.

The Chairman wanted to express his thanks to Caroline Hays (Chief Inspector for Licensing), who would be leaving the team, for all the work carried out and for being an engaged officer who cared deeply for her work and how it connected to Licensing.  Members were introduced to Nikki Gander who would be overseeing this role going forward.

The Chairman also expressed on behalf of the Committee his thanks to Deputy Shravan Joshi, who had since stepped down from the Committee, for all his service as a Committee Member.

A final thanks was expressed to Bob Roberts who was retiring. The Chairman expressed his thanks for the work he has done through his service at the Corporation, but more recently as the Interim Executive Director for Environment, and for his assistance in ensuring that the

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 23 April 2024.

RESOLVED, That – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 23 April 2024, be approved as correct record.

To consider the following Resolution from the Ward of Portsoken – 20 March 2024

“We welcome the consideration given by the City of London Corporation’s Licensing Committee and Port Health and Environmental Services Committee to the issue of anti-social behaviour in Portsoken associated with the night-time economy, and further encourage the relevant Committee to consider the installation of pop-up public conveniences at night-time economy hotspots in the City to address the common issue of street urination”.

The Committee considered a Resolution from the Ward of Portsoken on 20 March 2024.

The Deputy Chairman explained that this wardmote originated from his ward, and expressed his surprise that this made its way to Licensing Committee, as this matter had not been addressed at the Wardmote in the context of Licensing. The Committee noted that this wardmote had originally come to this Committee the previous year, which focused primarily on issues of anti-social behaviour, street urination and street cleansing. It was then decided that this did not have a direct link to any licensed premises and was passed on formally to Port Health & Environmental Services Committee who investigated the matter. Residents at the Portsoken Wardmote noted accepted the findings from Port Health & Environmental Services Committee but still maintained that the issue was ongoing and debated that more public toilets were needed to combat this. It was therefore the Deputy Chairman’s view that that this wardmote was in the remit of Port Health & Environmental Services and should be addressed by that Committee, as there was no immediate link to licensed services.

The Chair of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee told Members that a paper would be brought to that committee in July, which would look at public toilets and increasing their visibility. The Chair had visited Portsoken to see the issues, and this remained a priority for the Chair to increase the number of toilets and cleaning at the weekend. Extra staff had been procured and therefore improvements should be seen on street cleansing, but the issue of public toilets would be discussed in July’s meeting.

The Committee were told by the Portsoken Ward Deputy that eh resolution had not been intended for licensing but for Port Health, and the committee agreed following discussion, that this Resolution did not

The Comptroller and City Solicitor to be heard.

The Committee noted that one appeal had been logged in relation to the Sub-Committee decision regarding the hearing on the premise license for Tokyo Hit, Ground Floor & Basement, 165 Fleet Street, EC4A 2AE, held on the 10th of April 2024. A summons from the Court had yet to be received, therefore the Comptroller and City Solicitor would provide a further update when more information was available.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

The Committee heard an update with regards to the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee that had been held earlier in the week. This Committee existed so that it scrutinised the work of the Safer City Partnership. This partnership considered actions around crime and disorder in the city, and there were three priority areas for the year which focused on serious violence, antisocial behaviour and re-offending. During the discussion, it was asked how this work related the nighttime economy. The Late-Night Levy was brought to the attention of the Scrutiny Committee who were interested in obtaining more information on this. It was therefore agreed that the paper on the late-night levy would be sent to the Scrutiny Committee for information. It was also asked that the partnership continue to promote the levy so that businesses and the community are kept apprised to the benefits and how this is being used. Members noted that a paper with further information would be brought to the next Licensing Committee.

The Chairman asked that in the process of explaining the levy, it was important that the businesses that pay this understand why the levy exists and what it is used for. It was noted that it had been some time since premises were actively engaged and made aware of this, and the Chairman asked Officers to look at ways in which this can be achieved in this calendar year.

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.

The Committee agreed to not exempt the public and the below items were therefore agreed.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2024.

RESOLVED- That – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2024, be approved as correct record.

There were no questions.

There were no items.