Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding a review of the Statement of Licensing Policy and a timescale for consultation and publication.

The Licensing Manager reported that although the document was not statutorily due for review until 2018, many legislative changes and changes in the Corporation's own policies and procedures had led to a complete re-write of the existing document. He added that the idea was that the revised document would be a useful working document for the public, members and potential applicants alike. Members were informed that new sections on licensing hours, the late night levy, cumulative impact and Temporary Event Notices had been added to the revised document.

The Licensing Manager went on to report that it was proposed that consultation on the revised document commence next week for a period of 8 weeks before bringing the amended version to the October Licensing Committee for approval and then to the Court of Common Council in December 2016 for final sign off.

With regard to the section of the document entitled 'Enforcement and other Legislation', sub-heading 'Planning', the Licensing Manager responded to a question by stating that officers felt that it was necessary to underline that Licensing and Planning are two separate regimes within the revised document. He added that if Licensing officers were aware that if an applicant did not yet have planning permission they would write to them to inform them that they would not be able to carry out any licensable activity without this. He clarified that Licensing and Planning applications could be made in any order.

A Member commended officers on the revision of the document. He went on to question if a glossary and a list of acronyms could also be attached to the new document which would hopefully lead to a better understanding of the regime as a whole. The Licensing Manager agreed that this would be a useful addition.

A Member questioned if Members could be provided with a Word document detailing all of the changes made to the previous version as well as copies of all of the other policies referred to within the new document. Another Member also requested that the Committee be provided with a list of the major legislative changes that had driven this early revision to the document.      

The Deputy Chairman suggested that the City Corporation's policies on Tables and Chairs and Sexual Entertainment Venues should also be appended to the revised document for completeness and ease of reference.

The Chairman reported that he would be tasked with finalising the foreword for the revised document although he stated that he would welcome the wider Committee's input in this area. He stated that his intention was to use the foreword to set out what the City's Licensing regime were hoping to achieve as well as what they were looking to avoid and prevent.  He wanted to set out a positive message as to why the City had a Licensing Policy.

The Deputy Chairman supported this positive slant and went on to suggest that the foreword should also be used to 'talk up' the City's night time economy and its importance to the area. It should also clearly set out what was expected of licenced premises within the City and celebrate the City's relationships with its partners such as the City of London Police, the London Fire Brigade and licence holders.

The Deputy Chairman stated that she would also like to see outside drinking, noise and dispersal mentioned within the revised document with licence holders also encouraged to clean up outside their premises. She was keen that this should be mentioned in the foreword and then be a common thread throughout.

The Chairman welcomed the Committee's initial thoughts on the revised document and suggested that any further comments Members might have during the consultation period be put directly to the Licensing Manager.

RESOLVED – That Members:

·        Agree the draft Licensing Policy for consultation; and

·        Agree the timetable and methodology to determine the final text and adoption of the Statement of Licensing Policy.