Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed to the meeting students from Leeds Beckett University who were studying for a degree in Journalism.

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 the refusal of inspection of documents

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

There were no formal late items, however, the Chair did accept the inclusion of supplementary information in respect of Item No.8 “Deputation to Full Council – 14^th September 2016 – Student Safety in Leeds” (Minute No.80 refers)

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 made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence(If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: B Gettings, J Heselwood, C Townsley and G Wilkinson

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 5^th October 2016.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th October 2016 be 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 sets out details of a deputation to Council on the 14^th September 2016 by students of the Leeds Beckett University, concerning student safety in Leeds, in particular sexual harassment, and calling for the Council to support consent education in the city’s bars and clubs.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which set out details of a deputation brought before Council on 14^th September 2016 by Students of Leeds Beckett University who were seeking the assistance of the Council in promoting student safety and calling for the Council to support consent education in the City’s Bars and Clubs.

With the agreement of the Chair, supplementary information was circulated at the start of the meeting – The document was entitled “Leeds BID Purple Flag Award – Leeds University Union Zero Tolerance”

Appended to the report was a copy of the following document:

·  Community Safety Partnership – Structure (Appendix A referred)

The Principal Liaison & Enforcement Officer, Citizens & Communities together with the Area Community Safety Co-ordinator, Environment & Housing presented the report and responded to Members questions and queries

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

·  A previous campaign “We’ve got your back” was a pledge to make Leeds a city with zero tolerance stance on all incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault

·  The campaign was supported by the Community Safety Partnership and promoted in the City’s Bars and Clubs

·  Leeds University Union (LUU) delivered external training to licensed venues within the city centre with input from Pubwatch and BACIL (Businesses Against Crime in Leeds)

·  Funding for the campaign was supplied by Police and the Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund and the University of Leeds Footstep Fund

·  The Campaign ceased due to absence of funding

·  Leeds University Union now intend to restart the campaign, LUU have pledged funding, Leeds BID had also expressed an interest in the project

·  The project would complement the mandatory training that door security  staff must complete in order to achieve their Security Industry Authority registration

·  Taking the project forward would be done via Leeds University Colleges and Crime Reduction Partnership and the City Centre Community Safety Partnership

·  Entertainment Licensing would support the marketing of the campaign through Pubwatch

·  Mechanisms for the delivery of the project together with outputs and proposed expenditure were highlighted within the supplementary information

In general Members were supportive of the initiative and welcomed the expression of interest from Leeds BID

Members were of the view that the City Council together with the Community Safety Partnership had an obligation to support student safety in Leeds, but it was for the Leeds University Colleges to take the project forward.

Responding to a question as to how the initiative could be monitored, Officers reported that monitoring could be difficult because instances of sexual harassment required reporting, if problem premises were to be identified.

It was suggested that delivering the message to students about awareness of sexual harassment and abuse should be done prior to the start of “fresher’s week”

It was noted that staff turnover in bars and clubs may be high, so training should be delivered periodically or through induction training. 

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance and presentation and asked that an update report be brought back  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

To consider a draft report of Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration, which sets out details of progress in respect of safeguarding in Taxi & Private Hire Licensing.

The report is presented to the Licensing Committee to provide an opportunity for comment before being considered by the Executive Board on 14^th December 2016.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which set out details of progress in respect of safeguarding in Taxi & Private Hire Licensing.

It was reported that in bringing the report to Licensing Committee, Members were being afforded the opportunity to consider and contribute to the draft report before being considered by the Executive Board at its meeting on 14^th December 2016.

Appended to the report were the following appendices:

·  Draft Report to Executive Board (14^th December 2016) - Safeguarding in Taxi & Private Hire Licensing – 12 Month Review of Progress to December 2016 (Appendix 1 refers)

The Section Head, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing presented the report and responded to Members questions and queries.

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

·  Annual on-line DBS update service

·  Private Hire Operator Conditions

·  Convictions Criteria

·  Compulsory Safeguarding Training

·  Immediate Suspension Policy

·  Licensing Applications by non UK Citizens

·  Police Disclosures

·  Safeguarding Referrals

·  Taxi and Private Hire Resources

·  Joint work with West Yorkshire Combined Authority

In providing clarification around the immediate suspension policy, the Section Head, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing said an immediate suspension decision meant that the driver could not drive until the suspension had been lifted by the Courts or following investigation by officers.

Referring to the Combined Authority, Members queried if any progress had being made in establishing closer links with other local authorities in terms of data sharing.

In responding the Section Head, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing said some progress was being made with at least two other authorities adopting the same licensing system as Leeds City Council which would allow data sharing between those authorities.

In responding to a query about the length of time for a police disclosure to be received, the Section Head, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing said the average length of time could take between 3 – 4 months

With reference to the compulsory safeguarding training, Members asked if drivers were made aware how to report instances of “anything they’d heard in the back of the cab”

  In responding the Section Head, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing said such instances should be reported immediately to the Section Head and there were reporting procedure posters in licensed bases for Operators and Drivers.

  In drawing the discussion to a conclusion the Chair thanked Members and officers for their contributions commenting that it was good to see that progress was being achieved in establishing new safeguarding policies and procedures

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the report be noted and welcomed

(ii)  That the draft report be referred to the Executive Board for their consideration

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 today, the following item had been added to the Committees Work Programme.

Deputation to Full Council – 14^th September 2016 – Student Safety in Leeds (6 monthly update report)

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

To note that the next Meeting will take place on Tuesday 6^th December 2016 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday 6^th December 2016 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.