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 the refusal of inspection of documents.

The agenda contained no exempt information however the Committee was advised that it may be necessary for the meeting to move into closed session should Members wish to discuss the details of the Event Management Plan for the 2023 Leeds Festival.

No late items of business were added to the agenda.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Buckley.  

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 26^th May 2023.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th May 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, which advises Members of the progress of the multi-agency meetings and the Event Management Plan for the Leeds Festival 2023. The report also seeks consideration of the mechanism for approving the final Event Management Plan prior to the Festival, which will be held in the grounds of Bramham Park over August Bank Holiday weekend

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory outlined the work undertaken so far in preparation for the Leeds Festival 2023, to be held in the grounds of Bramham Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend. 

The report noted that the premises licence for the event, originally granted in 2006, was subject to a condition that an Event Management Plan (“EMP”) and any revisions to the EMP must be approved by the Licensing Authority prior to the Festival, this task had previously been delegated by the Committee to the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory. This year, the Committee was requested to consider whether to continue that delegation or whether to delegate approval of the final EMP to a Licensing Sub Committee to be convened on in August, just prior to the event.

Members of the Committee had been granted access to the EMP as it evolved on the secure national government platform - “Resilience Direct” – which was accessible to all partners involved in planning for the event, including blue light and relevant services as partners of the Leeds Safety Advisory Group (“SAG”) co-ordinated by the Resilience & Emergency Team.

The Committee noted that, due to the nature of possible discussions on any specific measures or proposals for this year’s event, Members may consider it appropriate for the public to be excluded from part of the meeting which would facilitate discussions in private to allow Mr Benn of Festival Republic and other attendees to provide Members with confidential information associated with the Festival which falls under the Access to Information Procedure Rules.

The following were in attendance:

·  Melvin Benn, Managing Director, Festival Republic

·  Lucy Kinsella, Licensing Co-ordinator, Festival Republic

·  Nick Wallen, Festival Republic

In introducing the report, the Licensing Officer reported the comments of LCC Environmental Protection Team who were unable to attend the meeting. It was noted that the noise monitoring arrangements would be the same as in place for 2022 when no noise complaints had been received, the Team had no concerns with arrangements for this year’s event and would be on-site to monitor noise and disturbance.

The Committee received a presentation from Festival Republic which provided an overview of the event planning which was now in its final stages:

·  Final plans would be shared with SAG two weeks prior to the Festival once final attendance figures were known through the sale of tickets. Currently the event was not sold out.

·  Following discussions with the Committee at its January 2023 de-brief meeting, work had been done to quantify the attendee demographic, approximately 55% of ticket holders were under 21 years.

Changes to previous years arrangements were outlined as:

Main Stage West – to hold a Silent Disco on Sunday

Main Stage East & West – a security response team to be located at both stages.

Campsite Village – to include locations for medics, information points and a new ‘check-in and chill’ area.

Brown Campsite – reduced in size.

Eco Campsite – increased in size.

Air-Hubs – new for 2023.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, providing an update on revocation of taxi driver licences on the basis of minor motoring convictions. The Licensing Committee held 9^th August 2022 agreed that, for a trial period of 12 months, any decisions to revoke taxi drivers’ licences on the basis of minor motoring convictions should be determined by Licensing Sub-Committee. The report highlights that during the trial period there have been no cases where such decisions have been required, however, there are now a number of pending cases where revocations may need to be considered and the Licensing Committee is requested to approve a further 12 months trial of this process.

Further to minute 18 of the meeting held 9^th August 2022, the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, submitted a report on the trial 12 month period where any decisions to revoke taxi drivers’ licences on the basis of minor motoring convictions would be determined by Licensing Sub-Committee.

The report detailed that during the trial period, there had been no cases where such decisions may have been required. It was however reported that there were now a number of pending cases where revocations may need to be considered. The Committee was therefore requested to approve a further 12 months trial of the process.

In response to one Councillor’s report that he had received information that there had been occasions when a case had been determined by officers that could have been considered by a Licensing Sub Committee, Members were informed that this was not correct. There had been some cases where drivers having amassed 9 points or more had received training but no cases had come before officers to consider revocation.

The Committee also noted that training would be provided to Members in readiness for any Licensing Sub Committees required to consider minor motoring conviction cases and the format that such meetings would take.

RESOLVED –

a)  That Licensing Committee delegate to Licensing Sub-Committee the power to determine the potential revocation of taxi and private hire drivers’ licences on grounds of minor motoring convictions.

b)  That the delegation of this power be reviewed after a period of 12 months.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 19^th September 2023 at 10.00 am

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 19^th September 2023 at 10.00 am.