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.

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 No. 13, Gambling Act 2005 – Licensing of the Large Casino Schedule 9 Agreement – Annual Update was designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (3) because it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. (Minute No.85 Referred) and in all the circumstances of the matter, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information

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.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: S McKenna, and C Townsley.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th December 2017.

(Copy attached)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th December 2017 were submitted for accuracy and approval.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th December 2017, 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 Director of Resources and Housing which advices Members of the plans to engage with the taxi and private hire trade as part of the wider consultation on the council’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) plans. 

The report aims to illustrate how this process will support the steps that will be taken to complete the submission of a bid for funding to government to assist mitigation of the impacts of the CAZ on this sector. 

(Report attached)

The Director of Resources and Housing submitted a report which advised Members of the plans to engage with the taxi and private hire trade as part of the wider consultation on the Council’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) plans.

Members were informed that the aim of the report was to illustrate how the process would support the steps that would be taken to complete the submission of a bid for funding to government to assist mitigation of the impacts of the CAZ on this sector.

Appended to the report was a copy of a Leeds City Council Newsletter (Taxi and Private Hire) dated 5^th December 2017 which set out details of the government’s intension to improve air quality (Clean Air Zones)

The Project Manager, Resources & Housing presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and queries. Councillor J Lewis, Executive Member, Resources and Strategy was also in attendance.

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

·  The defined boundary of the CAZ

·  The charges that would apply to non-compliant vehicles entering the CAZ

·  The measures that would need to be undertaken for a vehicle to be compliant

·  The CAZ consultation to run from 2^nd January to 2^nd March 2018

·  Communication with the trade, consultation approach, online information and engagement with the trade using existing channels and trade forums

·  Support from the government to assist with the transition to lower emission vehicles that would be required by the introduction of a CAZ

Reference was made to the purchase of newer/ lower emission compliant vehicles suggesting that many drivers / operators would find it a financial strain to purchase newer vehicles.

In responding the Project Manager, Resources & Housing said it was important for individual drivers to be made aware of the options available to them and understand the benefits and savings from hybrid/ low emission vehicles. Government grants together with low interest loans could be made available if that was what drivers/ operators wanted.

Members queried how out of town vehicles would be monitored and charged.

Members were informed that the enforcement of out of town vehicles was not just a local issue but was a national issue. It was understood that representations had already been made to the Government from all major UK cities about this issue and there was also considerable support from Members of Parliament.

A discussion ensued on the use of electric vehicles with Members suggesting that the trade needed to be aware of electric vehicle costs (purchase costs and also running costs), the number of miles that could be achieved on a single charge and was there an adequate charging network in place.

Members were made aware that if an electric vehicle was charged from a residential property, off street car parking was required, and running a charging cable across the pavement would not be permitted.

One Member queried if it was possible to adapt a street lamp so the street lamp could act as a charging point.

In responding officers reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which sets out the annual review of the city centre areas covered by the CIP.

(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)

·  Updated Cumulative Impact Assessment for 2018 – (Appendix 2 referred)

The Principal Licensing Officer together with PC Arkle from West Yorkshire Police 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 was 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 businesses making applications in the city centre

·  West Yorkshire Police crime statistics for the preceding 12 months demonstrated that there was a 15% increase in violent crime in the red zone areas of the city centre and continued to be problematic.

In the discussion that ensued Members expressed concern and disappointment at the increase in violent crime. It was also noted there was a small increase in the number of sexual offences reported. Referring to sexual offences officers suggested that more people having the confidence to report such crimes possibly accounted for the slight increase.

Members queried paragraph 3.11 of the submitted report and the discontinuation of the street marshal scheme due to lack of overall organisation and competing police priorities.

In responding Officers reported that the Purple Ambassadors, provided by a partnership between LeedsBID, Leeds City Council and BACIL had assumed responsibility for the scheme since September 2017. The impact on the crime statistics would be evident in the next review

The Chair thanked PC Arkle for her attendance and contribution

RESOLVED –

(i)  To approve the cumulative impact assessment for the city centre effective for 2018

(ii)  To note the establishment of a Working Group set up to review the city’s cumulative impact policies in the city centre, Headingley, Woodhouse, Chapel Allerton, Horsforth and Armley, (Working Group to include Councillors: M Harland, B Flynn,  B Selby, A Khan and K Groves

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which sets out the Council’s proposed response to the consultation on proposals for change to gaming machines and social responsibility measures.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which set out the Council’s proposed response to the consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social responsibility measures.

Appended to the report were the following documents:

·  Consultation on proposals for changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures – Issued by the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport October 2017 (Appendix A referred)

·  Draft Leeds City Council response to the consultation (Appendix B 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 main proposals put forward in the consultation

·  The views of the industry

·  The coordination/ consultation undertaken by Entertainment Licensing in preparing the proposed response

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the proposed draft response be approved as the City Council’s formal response to the consultation

(ii)  That a letter be sent on behalf of the Committee to all Leeds Members of Parliament requesting their support in ensuring the views of the City Council are made known to the appropriate Minister responsible

To note the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2018.

(Copy attached)

Members considered the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2018.

In accordance with Minute No. 80 above, a further report providing an update of the Clean Air Zone Consultation be brought back to this committee in six months-time (July 2018)

RESOLVED – That with the inclusion of the above, the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2018 be approved.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 6^th February 2018 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 6^th February 2018 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(At this point on the agenda, the meeting went into closed session)

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.

(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 documents:

·  Annual Update Report prepared by Global Gaming Ventures (GGV) the casino premises licence holders. – Appendix A (Exempt Report)

·  Problem Gambling in Leeds – Briefing Note prepared by the City Council’s Financial Inclusion Team – Appendix B

The Section Head, Entertainment Licensing together with the Financial Inclusion Manager, Communities and Environment presented the report and responded to Members questions and queries.

Members were informed that GGV Ltd secured the full casino premises licence in March 2015. Upon being granted the licence, GGV Ltd committed to undertake a range of benefits, including commitments to employment, training, the mitigation of problem gambling, and commitment to environmental principles to the physical development of the casino. These benefits are secured by a Schedule 9 Agreement. The Schedule 9 Agreement is strengthened by a condition on the casino premises licence which ensures that the benefits are evaluated.

Members noted the Schedule 9 Agreement consisted of a Schedule 1 document which sets out 38 benefits that the casino would deliver. (Appendix 1 referred)

The Chair welcomed and introduced representatives from Global Gaming Ventures (GGV) Ltd:

Andrew Herd – Chief Executive

Deborah Roil – Director of Development & Stakeholder Relations, GGV

Patrick Noakes – Managing Director, Victoria Gate Casino

Members received a brief presentation on the operation of the Casino in the first ten months of opening which included:

·  Opening and Performance

·  Business Highlights

·  Employment and Training

·  Responsible Operator

·  Ownership and Financing

Members also received an update on the delivery of the benefits as contained in Schedule 1 of the Schedule 9 Agreement. The additional information to be supplied is set out in the resolution (iv) below

The Chair thanked GGV for their attendance and presentation and welcomed the update on the annual report.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note and welcome the presentation by GGV (Leeds) Limited

(ii)  To note the progress on the delivery of the benefits as contained  in the Schedule 9 Agreement

(iii)  To note and welcome the contribution made by the council’s Financial Inclusion Team

(iv)  That the requested information on local employment be circulated to Members as soon as it becomes available