Issue - meetings

To approve the Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003 as approved at the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee on 29^th April 2024.

Council considered a report which sought adoption of the revised Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003.

The report explained that the Licensing Act 2003 imposed a statutory requirement upon the Council to prepare and publish a Statement of Principles every five years. The previous Statement of Principles had been published in 2019 and was now due for renewal.

The Joint Environmental Health Service had conducted an initial review of the Policy and had identified a number of amendments necessary to being the Policy up to date.  In summary, the proposed amendments aimed to achieve the following:

·         Ensure the policy was consistent with legislation and statutory guidance

·         Increase the clarity of the Policy

·         Improve the standards of premises in the District through the recommendation of more robust management practices

·         Provide clarity on delegations

·         Update local demographics.

The draft policy had been considered by the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee and the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee, after which a six-week public consultation had run from 26^th February 2024 to 7^th April 2024.  No responses had been received during the consultation period and a proposed final version of the Policy had been considered by the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee on 29^th April 2024.

The revised Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003 was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

Moved by Councillor Anne Clarke and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED that, as recommended by the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee, the revised Statement of Principles under the Licensing Act 2003 be adopted and take effect immediately.

(Assistant Director of Environmental Health)