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.

RESOLVED – That the report entitled “Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths” as referred to Minute No. 21 be designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(1) Information relating to any individual and 10.4(7) Information  relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime and that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

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 consider apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Latty.

To consider and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 26^th January 2021.

(Copy attached)

Members considered the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th January 2021.

RESOLVED –The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th January 2021, were accepted as a true and correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes (If any)

There were no issues raised under Matters Arising.

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.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory presented the Licensing Annual Report for 2021.

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

The report covered the 2021 calendar year for both Entertainment and Taxi & Private Hire Licensing. Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

Entertainment Licensing

·  Coronavirus Pandemic

·  Business Support

·  Office Arrangements

·  Licensing Processing

·  Gambling Statistics

·  Large Casino

·  Sex Establishments

·  Outdoor Large Events

·  Enforcement and Liaison

·  Future Projects

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing

·  Coronavirus Pandemic

·  Communications

·  Vehicle Emissions and Free Licensing Grant

·  Enforcement and Compliance

·  The year ahead

Entertainment Licensing issues/ queries

Members noted the dramatic reduction in Temporary Events Notices and that complaint handling was also down from previous years, both of which were a direct result of Coronavirus restrictions. However staff had been redeployed to support other areas including the Shielding Helpline and Environmental Health Services.

Members queried if “place shaping” would feed into Cumulative Impact Reviews. 

In responding the Principal Licensing Officer said that consideration would be given to all data.

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing issues/queries:

Members were informed that the Coronavirus Pandemic had impacted significantly on the Taxi and Private Licensing Service: 75% of taxi and private hire licensing staff were working from home, there had been a significant reduction in the number of taxi journeys across the city and in excess of 700 taxi and private hire drivers were on furlough.

Members queried what kind of support was being provided to drivers and operators.

The Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager said a lot more of the services were now available on-line, some policies were being relaxed (the fitting of temporary driver’s screens) with others becoming automated: driver renewals and vehicle MOT certificates. Members were informed that the trade had also adapted well to the on-line service, but some licence holders approximately 10% required more assistance.

Referring to the fitting of the temporary driver’s screens, Members queried if removal of the screens would be sought once the social distancing restrictions were lifted. 

In responding the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager said the screens would be checked at the next vehicle inspection, if they met the required standards they could be retained, if not they would be removed.

Members noted the proposed introduction of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Leeds was now not progressing, in the discussion that followed Members queried if the grant scheme for the purchase of low emission and low pollution vehicles was still going ahead. 

The Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager confirmed the Council was offering support to taxi and private hire licence holders of low emission vehicles (ULEV) and vehicles which would have been exempt from the Clean Air Zone (CAZ). Details were still been finalised and would be circulated to Licensing Members as soon as they became available.

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance and contributions

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the Annual Report 2019 be noted.

(ii)  That details of the support scheme for Taxi and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory which seeks the endorsement of the Committee on the proposed draft response to the Government’s Call for Evidence on the review of the Gambling Act.

(Report attached)

With reference to the last meeting held on 26^th January 2021 when Members requested the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory to prepare a draft response to the Call for Evidence, which would then be circulated to Members to allow an opportunity to comment/ provide feedback on the Call for Evidence.

The Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory submitted a report confirming that in accordance with the Committees instructions, Officers’ from Entertainment Licensing, Financial Inclusion and Public Health had produced a draft response which had subsequently been distributed to Licensing Committee Members for comment. The proposed response was included at Appendix A of the submitted report.

Members welcomed the thoroughness of the information provided in the draft response.

RESOLVED – That the draft response be endorsed as the City Council response to the Call for Evidence.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory which informs Members of the triennial review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy and seeks the Committee views on a proposed response.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory submitted a report which informed Members of the requirement to undertake a three yearly review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy and to consult upon any changes.

Addressing the report the Principal Licensing Officer explained that the current policy was adopted by Council in November 2018 and would expire on 31^stJanuary 2022.

Members noted that approval of the policy was a matter for full Council, the approval process follows the Budgetary and Policy Framework and is set out in Section 3.2 of the submitted report.

Members were informed that Officers from Entertainment Licensing would work with Public Health and the council’s Financial Inclusion Team to review the policy and to reflect findings from local research and surveys undertaken by both directorates. Members noted that the Licensing Committee would also be provided with an opportunity to participate in the Policy Review.

In the discussion that followed Members were of the view that providing feedback by email was the preferred method for participation.

RESOLVED – To note that a further report would be brought back to this Committee in May 2021

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory which sets out details of the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, received following the inquest into a fatality at the 2019 Leeds Festival.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory submitted a report which notified Members of the serving of a Regulation 28 Report on Leeds City Council, as the licensing authority for Leeds Festival, following the death of a teenager at the 2019 event.

Members noted that an Inquest was held at Wakefield Coroner’s Court, which concluded on the 13^thJanuary 2021. The Senior Coroner, after hearing the circumstances of the death had set out his concerns in a Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths.

Members were informed that a working group has been established to consider the contents of the report. The Working Group included Members of the Licensing Committee with contributions from representatives of Leeds Safety Advisory Group, Safer Leeds, West Yorkshire Police, Health & Safety, Public Health, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Childrens & Families, Legal Services and Entertainment Licensing.

It was reported the first meeting of the Working Group took place on the 9th February 2021 when it was agreed to ask the Senior Coroner for an extension to the original deadline of the 12th March 2021, to allow for further information to be gathered and presented, including from the organisers of the event.

Officers reported that it had subsequently been confirmed that an extension for the response to be provided had been granted until the 23rd April 2021.

The second meeting of the working group took place on 22^ndFebruary 2020, representatives from Festival Republic (the event organiser) were in attendance at this meeting.

At this point the meeting agreed to move into closed session to receive an update on the discussions held at the Working Group on 22^nd February 2021.

(The meeting returned to open session)

RESOLVED – That a further report be brought back to the next meeting of this Committee on Tuesday, 6th April 2021.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 6^th April 2021 at 10.00am (Remote Meeting – Zoom)

RESOLVED - That the next meeting of the Committee be arranged for Tuesday, 6^th April 2021 at 10.00am (Remote Meeting – Zoom)