Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding the delegated decisions of the Director pertaining to premises licences. The report detailed the premises licences, and variations to premises licences, granted under the Licensing Act 2003 by the Licensing Service from 1 July to 30 September 2014.

Members were advised that some Wetherspoons pubs had added a condition to their licence preventing the sale of alcohol between 00:00 and 02:00 despite venue being open during this period. The Licensing Manager advised that this meant they did not need to pay the Late Night Levy so Members agreed that the wording in the report be changed to “Add condition which has effect of reducing hours to midnight whilst the Late Night Levy is enforced”.

In response to a Member’s question, the Licensing Manager advised that 8 premises had been investigated for the sale of alcohol to under 18s. The Licensing Team were working with venue owners to ensure due diligence and that all members of staff were fully trained about the importance of not serving alcohol to under-aged people. Members were also advised that the Licensing Team were working alongside the City of London Police to impose serious sanctions on premises that were found to have served alcohol to under 18s twice within a 3 month period. Inspections of those premises who had committed the offence recently would be taking place shortly.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.