Agenda and minutes

To formally elect a Chair for the duration of the meeting

RESOLVED – That Councillor G Hyde be elected Chair for the meeting

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda, however further comments on the minutes of the last meeting had been received and these were tabled at the meeting for Member’s consideration

There were no declarations of interest

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Downes and  Wilkinson

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 12^th February 2013

(Copy attached)

The Head of Licensing and Registration indicated several amendments to the minutes of the last meeting in respect of Minute 86. A revised copy of the minutes was tabled at the meeting

RESOLVED – That, subject to the amendments outlined to the Committee, the minutes be agreed as a correct record

To consider the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration providing  the current position in respect of arrangements for the Leeds Festival 2013 and presenting a summary of changes within the 2013 Event Management Plan

(Report attached)

The Head of Licensing and Registration submitted a report advising the Committee of the arrangements for the 2013 Leeds Festival to be held at Bramham Park between 23^rd and 25^th August 2013. The report referred to the emerging Event Management Plan and included a schedule of changes made to the EMP in the light of last year’s event and comments from the multi-agency meeting held on 11 February 2013.

Mr M Benn, Festival Republic, attended the meeting and responded to Members queries in respect of capacity and site access. A large scale map showing the layout of the site was tabled at the meeting for reference.

Members expressed their continued support of the Festival and the work undertaken by the organiser with agencies to ensure the smooth running of the event

RESOLVED –

a)  To thank Mr Benn for his attendance

b)  To note the summary of changes to the 2013 event and

c)  To note that a further report will be brought back to the Licensing Committee in July or August 2013 to inform Members of the final arrangements and agency comments

To consider the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration on the work undertaken by the Licensing Committee SEV Working Group. The report also presents a draft Statement of Licensing Policy for consideration along with proposals in respect of licence fees for relevant premises and the delegation scheme

(Report attached)

The Head of Licensing and Registration submitted a report on the review the current LCC Statement of Licensing of Policy in respect of sex establishments. A copy of the draft Policy was included at Appendix 1 of the report along with copies of the consultation document, the outcome of consultation undertaken through the Leeds Citizens Panel and the proposed public consultation document

The report also set out proposals for a 3% increase to the application fee for a sex establishment licence in line with inflation and sought the Committees’ view on whether future sexual entertainment venue licence applications should be determined by members and at what level irrespective of whether there is an objection or not.

The Committee heard from Councillor Bruce, Chair of the SEV Working Group in respect of the review work undertaken by the Group in redrafting the Policy through consultation. Members discussed the following issues

·  The findings of the consultation undertaken with the Citizens Panel

·  The suggestion that the consultations should be publicised as widely as possible, through local radio stations, Parish Councils and Area Committees to ensure widespread media coverage and encourage public participation

·  The Council’s legal position in respect of the proposed changes to the Policy and the possible impact of the changes on existing operators

·  The advice provided in respect of decision making having regard to the policy and Members’ discretion to choose whether to apply or make exception to the policy in respect of individual applications

·  The monitoring of the venues operating under the current policy

Having noted the detailed discussions, Members considered it would be appropriate that, following the conclusion of the public consultation period, the Policy be presented to the Committee at a single-issue meeting

  RESOLVED –

a)  That, having reviewed the proposed consultation approach, the Licensing Committee give approval for public consultation to commence on the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy with an additional request that the consultation include Area Committees and Parish Councils and be brought to the attention of local radio stations

b)  That approval be given to a 3% increase in application fees in line with inflation

c)  That approval be given for changes to be made to the sub-delegation scheme to ensure that all applications for sexual entertainment venues are determined by Members through the Licensing Sub Committee process irrespective of whether or not objections have been received.

To consider the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration on the Policy and administrative process for the renewal of Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver licences, including the necessary control measures; the volume of renewals and instances where an exception to the process can be made for drivers when appropriate

(Report attached)

The Head of Licensing and Registration submitted a report for information on the administrative process for the renewal of a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage drivers licence. The report outlined the necessary control measures, the volume of renewals dealt with by the Taxi & Private Hire Section and the instances where an exception to the process could be made for drivers when appropriate.

Members discussed the following

·  The measures in place to accommodate drivers unable to renew their driver licence at the appropriate time due to a period of planned absence from the country or in unforeseen circumstances

·  The implications of non-renewal on the validity of vehicle insurance necessary for the transportation of fee paying passengers

·  The measures employed by the Section to remind drivers of their licence renewal date

·  The low numbers of drivers affected relative to the total number of licensed drivers

Members were concerned that missing a renewal date would have a financial impact on the driver but also acknowledged that hackney and private driving was a professional trade and licence renewals were the responsibility of the professional driver

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and the comments made by Members be noted

To note the contents of the Work Programme for the Committee for the remainder of the 2012/13 Municipal Year

(copy attached)

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the Licensing Work Programme

To note the date and time of the next Committee meeting as Tuesday 9^th April 2013 at 10:00 am

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 9^th April 2013 at 10:00 am