Agenda and minutes

That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities

(Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England)

Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting during

Consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as exempt on

the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be

transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public

were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so

designated as follows:-

Appendix A to Agenda Item 12, Notification of First Draft Event Management Plan for Leeds Festival 2015 was designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (3 and 7) because it contained information relating to crime and disorder which may result in future legal proceedings and any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors K Bruce and M Ingham.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 10^th March 2015

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Housing which  provides an update on the on-going work to tackle shisha smoking in the city. It follows on from previous reports provided to Committee on a 6 monthly basis.

(Report attached)

The report of the Team Manager, Environmental Health provided an update following previous reports relating to shisha and the ongoing work.

Rachel McCormack, Team Manager, Environmental Health presented the report.

Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

·  There had been ten enforcement visits to shisha premises over the past year.

·  Details of prosecutions carried out in the past year.

·  Advisory visits had taken place to premises where the businesses had come under new ownership.

·  The Niche Tobacco Project – Members were informed that this project was coming to a close and reference was made to the Niche Tobacco Toolkit and potential for links to the Healthy Schools Project website.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Prosecutions were usually initiated following visits with the police.

·  Use of injunctions or anti-social behaviour powers – this would be investigated and reported back to the Licensing Committee.

·  Victim surcharges – details of where this was spent would be reported back.

·  Planning enforcement – cases were referred to Planning and other partners where enforcement action was necessary.

·  Concern regarding the general operation of many premises and whether policy should be developed to control this.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and a further report be brought to Licensing Committee in three months time.

To consider a report by the Head of Licensing and Registration which sets out  the Statement of Licensing Policy 2016 – 2018. Appended to the report is a summary of changes.

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Licensing and Registration informed Members of the requirement to review the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy (Licensing Policy) and to consult upon any changes every three years.  The three yearly review was currently taking place and officers had reviewed the current policy and made suggestions in line with changes to the Gambling Commissions Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice.

It was aimed to commence consultation on the policy on 13 April 2015.

It was reported that one of the main areas of concern had been the rise in the number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in licensed gambling premises.  In light of this, operators were now required to complete locality risk assessments.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Work was taking place in Manchester to develop a toolkit to highlight vulnerable areas by assessing the demographics of an area.

·  Gambling operators had social responsibility codes in respect of vulnerable customers. 

·  The Council carried out inspections of premises as do the Gambling Commission.

·  The role of Trading Standards and Police – prevention of money laundering – it was reported that there were protocols in place to highlight potential money laundering and these also applied to the use of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.  Very few complaints were received regarding gambling premises.

·  Credit cards could not be used on fixed odds machines.  There had to be some kind of human intervention with staff.

·  Restriction on the number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

·  Childrens’ safeguarding – operators used the age verification scheme.

·  Work with the financial inclusion team regarding debt advice and problem gambling.

·  Planning regulations – there were due to be changes to planning legislation regarding the classification of premises to be used for gambling.

RESOLVED –That the changes suggested by Officers to the draft Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy be approved for public consultation.

To note the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme 2015.

(Copy attached)

Members considered the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2015.

RESOLVED – That the Licensing Committee Work Programme be noted.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday 6^th May 2015 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Friday, 22 May 2015 at 10.00 a.m.

To consider a report by the Head of Licensing and Registration which sets out the proposed arrangements for the 2015 Leeds Festival to be held at Bramham Park between the 25^th and 27^th August 2015.

(Appendix A of the report contains exempt information)

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Licensing and Registration provided Members with a summary of changes to the 2015 Leeds Festival.

Stephen Holder, Principal Licensing Officer presented the report.

Members were informed that the main change to the operation of the festival would be the conditions regarding day tickets.  These would now only allow day ticket holders to access certain areas and they would have to leave the site at 11.00 p.m.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Capacity for the festival was 90,000 but this had not been reached before.  Facilities would be in place for full attendance.

·  Work was ongoing with Thorner Parish Council regarding noise mitigation.  There had not been any complaints about noise last year.

·  It was not anticipated that there would be any problem with high numbers of people leaving the site at one time.

·  Arranging a site visit prior to the 2015 event.

RESOLVED –

(1)   That the summary of changes to the 2015 Festival be noted.

(2)  That a further report be submitted to Licensing Committee in August 2015 to inform Members of final arrangements and agency comments.