Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection (copy attached).

A report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection introducing the initial ideas for a Code of Practice for licenced premises as requested by Members was considered. The report explained that the Code was linked with the City Corporation’s Licensing Policy and also introduced a risk assessment scheme for enforcement purposes. The report sought to approve the draft version of the Code which would be sent to various stakeholders for consultation with a final draft being submitted to the grand Committee.

The Chairman explained that the Code of Practice gave licensed premises an idea of how the Authority wished licensed premises to promote best practice.

A discussion took place and it was noted that the Code set best practice across the board and suggested what was deemed appropriate to licensed premises. It was pointed out that a traffic light system would be developed in due course, and that the Code would be circulated for consultation in August/September 2012 with a full report being submitted to the grand Committee in October 2012.

The Licensing Manager explained that the point scoring system would work on the basis that where best practice was not being adopted the licensed premises would accrue points and potentially go to an ‘amber’ level at which point officers would work with the premises to improve best practice. If the licensed premises accrued further points and reached a ‘red’ level the premises would be open for a review.

A Member pointed out that a common sense approach needed to be adopted and that for example, a licensed premises like Hotel Chocolat may not need CCTV if it sold alcohol and champagne with a box of chocolates, as implied by the Code.

It was noted that a point scoring system would be developed which would be kept as simple as possible and that a possible launch event would take place once the system was in place together with a mini briefing/training session for licensed premises.

It was noted that the Statement of Licensing Policy needed to refer to the Code of Practice and that both the Statement of Licensing Policy and the Gambling Policy would be published at the same time. 

Members were generally supportive of the Code and it was noted that if Members had any further comments these would be submitted to officers.

RESOLVED – Members agree that: -

1.        The grand Committee authorise the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to sign off the Code of Practice prior to it being circulated for consultation.

2.        Officers continue to develop standards for each of the areas covered by the licensing objectives in line with the example given in Appendix 1 of the report (some standards are to be considered as the minimum required in order to operate a licensed premises within the City of London).

3.        Criteria for a risk assessment scheme be developed with scoring bands set for green, amber and red status, and the criteria be closely linked to the Code’s standards.

4.        The final draft Code be sent to stakeholders for consultation during August and September 2012. The stakeholders would include Members, officers from other services, other responsible authorities, members of the public and licensed premises.

5.        Results of the consultation be collated and incorporated in a report to the Licensing Committee in October 2012.