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.

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 late items of business identified.

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 for Councillors: P Drinkwater, C Knight and G Wilkinson

To consider and approve the minutes of the two previous meetings held on 21^st and 24^th May 2019.

(Copies attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 21^st and 24th May 2019, 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 Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which presents the annual review of the city centre cumulative impact area, the consultation and recommendations for approval.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory submitted a report which presented the Annual Review of the City Centre Cumulative Impact Area.

The Chair introduced and welcomed Sergeant Martin Mynard and PC Cath Arkle from West Yorkshire Police.

The Principal Licensing Officer, Communities & Environment explained the background to the report and the results of the consultation and engagement.

Members noted that a four week email consultation had taken place between 13th May 2019 and 9th June 2019 which included all premises licence holders in the city centre, all ward Members who represent the local residents, Members of Parliament, and specialist licensing solicitors who may represent new licensees.

Members were informed that only one response was received from a premises outside of the red zones complaining about street drinking and rubbish accumulation.

Referring to the Police Crime Statistics (Appendix 1 of the submitted report) Members queried why drunk and disorderly offences had declined by 26.5% but public order offences had seen an increase, was this down to how crime was recorded.

In responding the police said they were now dealing with late night drunk and disorderly conduct in a different way due to the shortage of cell space. The police were now being more selective in who they arrest, often intervening early to prevent disorderly conduct later on. Greater CCTV coverage in the city centre was also assisting in identifying disorderly conduct and bar staff and door staff were being more proactive/ vigilant with drunk and disorderly customers.

Members queried if more cell space was the answer

Police representatives said more cell space would be useful but at the moment there were simply not enough officers to make the arrests.

Members noted there had been a slight reduction in crime on Call Lane and sought clarification on the reduction.

Members were informed that a significant amount of work had been done to combat drug dealing and knife crime in the area, a lot of arrests had been made with many individuals now serving prison sentences.

Referring to the Leeds BID, Members queried if Licensed Premises made a financial contributions to the scheme.

The Principal Licensing said most Licensed Premises in the City Centre were too small  to contribute to the Leeds BID, but they often contributed towards Street Marshalling

Although not in the cumulative impact area, one Member suggested that there appeared to be drug related issues taking places in the Marlborough estate/ Clarendon Road area, were the police aware of such activity.

In responding the Police said they were not aware of drug activity in that area, there were no nearby licensed premises but further enquiries would be made.

One Member suggested there was no reference within the analysis to sexual offences, would such offences be categorized under assault.

In responding, the police said further analysis would be required to determine the level of sexual offences within the city center, no particular “hot spots” had been identified for this particular offence but further inquiries would be made.

The Chair thanked officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which draws to the attention of Members the results of a recent consultation in Leeds, and consultations and engagement exercises in neighbouring authorities, about the suitability of people to hold a licence to work as a taxi or private hire driver. 

The report also highlights the areas where the council’s proposed policy relating to the suitability of licence holders could be revised following the consultation and discussion with the other West Yorkshire and York authorities and the areas where the council and other licensing authorities, professional bodies have suggested that the suitability policy could be further refined and developed and to note the progress made by the West Yorkshire and York authorities on the other areas of harmonisation.

(Report attached)

In the absence of the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager and with the agreement of the Chair, this item was deferred until the next meeting of the Committee.

To note the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2019/20

(Report attached)

That in addition to the Leeds Festival 2019 - Event Management Plan, the report “Taxi & Private Hire Licensing – Proposed Suitability Policy and Update on Policy Harmonisation with West Yorkshire & York Authorities” be also considered at the next meeting of this Committee in August 2019.

Members were informed that a site visit to the Leeds Festival 2019 site at Bramham Park had been arranged for Wednesday, 21^st August 2019, further details about the visit would be circulated to Members in due course.

Commenting on the Leeds Festival Event 2019, representatives from the Taxi and Private Hire trade said the festival organisers were promoting greater use of a shuttle bus service with no consultation with taxi and private hire trade.

In responding the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory said the proposed arrangements met all the statutory requirements, this was not a Leeds City Council event therefore LCC’s influence was limited, but the concerns of the trade would be made known to the festival organiser

RESOLVED – That with the inclusion of the above, to approve the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2019/20

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 13^th August 2019 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To note that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday, 13^th August 2019 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.