Agenda item

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.