Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

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:-

(i)  Gambling Act 2005 – Licensing of the Large Casino Schedule 9 Agreement – Annual Update – Appendix A of the report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration was deemed exempt from publication in accordance with Access to Information Rule 10.4 (3) as it included information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person and in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. (Minute No. 95 referred)

(ii)  Leeds Festival 2016 – Members De Brief - Appendix A of the report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration was deemed exempt from publication in accordance with Access to Information Rule 10.4 (3) as it included information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, and 10.4(7), information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime. In those circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. (Minute No. 96 refers)

There were no late items of business

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.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: Field, and Selby

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 1^st November 2016.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held 1^st November 2016 were accepted as a true and correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes.

There were no issues raised under matters arising.

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which requests the Committee to review the cumulative impact assessment areas (CIP) for the city centre.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which requested the Committee to review the annual Cumulative Impact Assessment for the city centre.

Appended to the report were copies of the following appendices:

·  West Yorkshire Police crime statistics for the preceding twelve month period (Appendix 1 referred)

·  Cumulative Impact Assessment – (Appendix 2 referred)

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

·  The requirement of licensing authorities to prepare and publish a statement of licensing policy every 5 years

·  The current policy was adopted as part of the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy 2014 to 2018 in December 2013 and updated in June 2016 to introduce a CIP for Armley

·  The policy specifies that the city centre CIP evidence and map would be reviewed each year based on the most recent crime and disorder statistics supplied by West Yorkshire Police. This review would be detailed in the Cumulative impact Assessment for the city centre, which provides guidance for business making application in the city centre

·  West Yorkshire Police crime statistics for the preceding 12 months demonstrated that violent crime and theft had increased significantly in the red areas of the city centre and continued to be problematic.

·  The conclusion of the crime statistic report that the increase in theft and violent crime in the two red areas was concerning

·  The review showed that there should be no change to the current CIP areas, due to the increase in crime, and that further work with businesses and partners would be undertaken to reduce crime in these red areas

In the discussion that ensued Members expressed concern and disappointment at the increase in violent crime and theft, suggesting that more police resources required deploying in the problem areas.

In responding Sergeant Shaw from West Yorkshire Police said there was an intention to provide more resources to the city centre for weekend nights to address the increase in violent crime in the red areas. It was also understood that more police were being recruited and would be deployed once they had been fully trained.

It was suggested that a policy was required for tackling night time crime in the city centre.

Members were supportive of the proposal.

It was also suggested that a letter be sent to the West Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner expressing this Committees concern and disappointment at the increase in violent crime at night in the city centre and, whilst acknowledging the good work being done by the police officers on duty, requesting that further police resources be deployed to the area to address the issue.

Again, Members were supportive of the suggestion.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To approve the cumulative impact assessment for the city centre effective from 1^st January 2017

(ii)  That a strategy be developed for tackling night time crime in the city centre and that outline proposals be submitted to the Licensing Committee in March  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To note the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme 2016/17.

(Report attached)

Members considered the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2016/17. It was noted that in view of the decisions made earlier, the following items would be added to the Work Programme:

·  That a strategy be developed for tackling night time crime in the city centre, outline proposals to be submitted to the meeting in March 2017

·  Site visit to the new Victoria Gate Casino, Eastgate (10^th January 2017)

·  That an update/ monitoring report on the Victoria Gate Casino be submitted to the meeting in June  2017

RESOLVED – That with the inclusion of the above, to approve the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2016/17

An opportunity to Join Police Officers on a night time Patrol of the City Centre (10.30pm – 4.00am, two Elected Members per patrol)

Dates available:

·  Saturday 11^th February  - Councillor Coulson + One vacancy

·  Saturday 25^th February – Two vacancies

·  Saturday 4^th March – Two vacancies

·  Saturday 18^th March – Two vacancies

The Chair reported that further dates had been added for Members of the Licensing Committee to join Police officers on a night time patrol of the City Centre (10.00pm – 4.00am).

Dates available:

·  Saturday 11^th February  - Councillor Coulson + One vacancy

·  Saturday 25^th February – Two vacancies

·  Saturday 4^th March – Two vacancies

·  Saturday 18^th March – Two vacancies

The Chair suggested that any Member wishing to attend should contact either the Clerk or Officers in Entertainment Licensing

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday 10^th January 2017 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday 10^th January 2017 (Site visit to the Victoria Gate Casino, Eastgate, Leeds 1)

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration

which provides an update on the delivery of the benefits of the Schedule 9 Agreement as a condition of the casino premises licence.

Global Gambling Ventures (Leeds) Ltd (Casino operators) will be in attendance at the meeting and will provide an update on the fit-out and preparatory work underway.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which provided an update on the delivery of the benefits of the Schedule 9 Agreement as a condition of the casino premises licence.

Appended to the report were copies of the following appendices:

·  Victoria Gate Casino – Second Annual Progress Report to Leeds City Council Licensing Committee (Appendix A referred - Exempt)

·  Problem Gambling in Leeds – Briefing Note of the Financial Inclusion Team (Appendix B referred)

The Section Head, Entertainment Licensing together with representatives from Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Limited (the casino operators) presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

·  Progress on the delivery of the Schedule 9 Agreement

·  Employment and training opportunities for local people

·  Problem gambling in Leeds

·  Social inclusion fund and monitoring arrangements

·  A recent variation to the casino premises licence and a new application under the Licensing Act 2003

·  Progress on the fit-out and preparatory work underway for the casino and possible timescale for opening

The Chair thanked Global Gaming Ventures for their attendance and presentation

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  That the presentation made by Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Limited be received and welcomed

(iii)  To note the contribution of the City Council’s Financial Inclusion Team with regard to problem gambling in Leeds

(iv)  That an update/ monitoring report be submitted to Licensing Committee in June  2017

(v)  That arrangements be made for the Licensing Committee to undertake a site visit to the premises on Tuesday 10^th January 2017

To consider a report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which highlight a number of issues raised at a de briefing meeting for Leeds Festival 2016, which require reviewing prior to the event taking place in August 2017.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which informed Members of the issues arising from the 2016 Leeds Festival held in the grounds of Bramham Park between 26^th and 28^th August 2016.

The report included a summary of the outcome of the multi-agency

de-briefing meeting held on 27^th September 2016 at Appendix B (Exempt).

The Principal Licensing Officer, Entertainment Licensing Section, presented the report together with Mr Melvin Benn, Festival Republic (Event organiser) and responded to Members questions and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

·  General Health & Safety issues

·  Good working relationship with the Health and Safety Team

·  Good collaboration with Festival Republic (Event organisers)

·  A review of the event management plan would be undertaken following egress difficulties experienced on Sunday evening and Monday morning together with wet weather contingencies and improvements to the car park drop off areas

·  Post the event Entertainment Licensing received a number of complaints, covering various issues, all of which were passed onto the event organiser and responded to direct.

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

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted including the   issues raised at the debrief, following the Leeds Festival 2016 event.