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.

Although there were no late items identified, the Chair did accept the inclusion of a revised report. Members were informed that the report “Licensing Annual Report 2019” had been amended to provide the latest available information on the City’s Clean Air Zone which comes into effect later in 2020. (Minute No. 100 referred) 

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: A Hutchison and P Latty.

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th January 2020.

(Copy attached)

Members considered the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th January 2020.

Referring to Minute No. 90, Members requested a minor change; removing the words Purple Ambassador and replacing with Evening Ambassador

RESOLVED – That, with the inclusion of the above, the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th January 2020, were accepted as a true and correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

Leeds City Council Suitability and Convictions Policy – Additional Report (Minute No.88 referred) – With reference to resolution (ii) and the establishment of a Working Group to give further consideration to: Driver Suitability/ Cross Border Working/ Smartphone Apps, Members queried if any progress had been made in securing a date for the first meeting of the Working Group.

The Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager reported that all necessary stakeholders had been identified and it was envisaged the first meeting would take place in late March/ early April 2020.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which presents the Annual Report of Entertainment Licensing and Taxi and Private Hire Licensing for 2019.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory presented the Licensing Annual Report for 2019.

The Principal Licensing Officer, Entertainment Licensing together with the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager presented the report.

The report covered the 2019 calendar year for both Entertainment and Taxi & Private Hire Licensing.  Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

Entertainment Licensing

·  Evening and the Night Time Economy

·  Licensing Act 2003

·  Strategy and Policy

·  Proactive Work

·  Reactive Work

·  Reviews of Licences

·  Application Statistics

·  Gambling Statistics

·  Sex Establishments

·  Outdoor Events

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing

·  Safety of the Travelling Public

·  Compulsory Safeguarding Training

·  DBS checks

·  New Suitability and Convictions Policy

·  All Vehicles meet MOT Standards

·  Enforcement Activity

·  Partnership Working

·  Plying for Hire Operations

·  CCTV in Vehicles

·  Clean Air Zone Implications

·  Licensing Statistics

Entertainment Licensing issues/ queries

Members noted there had been a substantial increase in the number of complaints, particularly in respect of breaches of condition and noise and queried if the noise nuisance was commercial or residential and was it confined to a particular area or spread out across the city.

Members were informed that such data was not readily available and the information would be circulated to Members

Members made reference to the Late Night Levy and queried when the proposed changes to the levy were likely to be implemented.

Members were informed that the changes were expected to be implemented in April 2019, however, this was deferred to allow for further consultation, October 2020 was now the suggested timescale for implementation of the changes.

Members referred to the Northern Gambling Clinic and asked if there was any performance data available.

The Principal Licensing Officer said that 19 referrals had made to the clinic in the first three months of operation. Further information would be made available to the Problem Gambling Working Group and subsequently shared with this Committee in due course.

Members asked if there were any complaints received from staff who were employed in sex establishments particularly around: drug issues, prostitution or breaches to the terms of their working conditions.

The Principal Licensing Officer said that the City Council received very few complaints from employees working in sex establishments, there was also no intelligence from other sources.

The Chair asked about LCC guidance in staging large events in view of the recent Corona Virus outbreak.

The Principal Licensing Officer said that Government guidance was awaited via the Safety Advisory Group.

Referring to Temporary Event Notices in residential areas, Members queried the level of complaints received by the Environmental Protection Team.

The Principal Licensing Officer suggested some private house parties attracted complaints but action was difficult unless the premises had previous history of noise/nuisance.

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing issues/queries:

Referring to the suspension of a licence, Members noted that during the past 3 years the number of licenses suspended had seen a significant increase.

In responding the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager said licenses could be suspended for a variety of reasons, dependent upon category e.g. motoring offences, accumulation of points on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

To note and approve the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2020.

(Copy attached)

Members considered the ongoing Work Programme for 2020.

RESOLVED – That the Licensing Committee Work Programme be approved

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 7^th April 2020 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED - That the next meeting of the Committee be arranged for Tuesday, 7^th April 2020 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.