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 did not include any exempt information.

There were no late items of business.

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

No declarations were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hutchison.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 24^th January 2023

The Committee noted a request from Councillor Garthwaite that her apologies for the previous meeting be recorded correctly.

RESOLVED – That, subject to an amendment to Minute 42 to include apologies from Councillor Garthwaite, the minutes of the previous meeting held 24^th January 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

Minute 44 Leeds Festival

-  Expressions of interest were sought from Members to join the Sustainability Working Group to consider the environmental impact of the Festival.

-  The Committee noted one Members continuing concerns over public safety, crime and disorder and that the overall control of the event remains with Festival Republic Ltd. In respect of the process for the sign-off of the Event Management Plan for the festival, in response to the request that the full Committee had access to the Event Management Plan prior to sign off in order to fulfil a condition of the Licence, it was agreed that work would be undertaken to provide Members with access to the EMP which is held on the Resilience Direct software

RESOLVED –

a)  To note that Councillors Gibson, Wilson, Flynn, Forsaith and Richards offered to join the Leeds Festival Sustainability Working Group.

b)  That work be undertaken to provide Members with access to the EMP

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory presenting the Licensing Annual Report 2022 which provides the Committee with information relating to the granting of licences, enforcement action, and proposed future work in respect of Entertainment Licensing and Taxi and Private Hire Licensing.

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, presented a report on the Licensing Annual Report 2022 which provided information relating to the granting of licences, enforcement action and proposed future work in relation to both the Entertainment Licensing Section and the Taxi and Private Hire Section. In his introduction, the Chief Officer introduced Jason Singh in his new role as Head of Service for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing.

The Committee noted the Licensing Annual Report 2022 will be submitted to the 22^nd March 2023 Council meeting and was presented for information and discussion.

The following were in attendance:

John Mulcahy, Chief Officer, Elections & Regulatory

Nicola Raper, Section Head, Entertainment Licensing

Sue Duckworth, Principal Licensing Officer, Entertainment Licensing

Jason Singh – Head of Service for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing

Valens Jacobs – Taxi and Private Hire Licensing, Licensing & Finance Manager

Richard Perrett – Taxi and Private Hire Licensing, Operations Manager

Phil Arnett - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing, Quality and Standards

In introducing the work of the Entertainment Licensing Section (ELS), the Principal Officer (ELS) highlighted the following key issues:

·  The continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on licensed premises evidenced in the number of applications being lower than pre-pandemic.

·  The operation of the Cumulative Impact Area (CIA) policies and the reasons why some applications for premises in the Headingley & Hyde Park and the Armley wards had been granted.

·  The number of complaints submitted in 2022 particularly in terms of unlicensed activity and noise/anti-social behaviour. Members noted the impact of the pandemic on the enforcement service due to the relaxation to off sales and outdoor drinking; the subsequent rise in complaints could be attributed to residents sensing noise and disturbance more readily now that licensed premises are resuming more normal levels of trading.

·  In response to previous requests, future work would include reviews of the Armley CIA and the Dewsbury Road CIA.  Evidence gathered since the requests were made would be analysed to inform that work.

The Committee discussed the following matters:

Appeals – The Committee noted that there were extended delays for appeals as the court system recovered from the backlog of work following the pandemic, currently one appeal against a Licensing decision for a premises within the Gipton and Harehills ward was in process.

Film Classifications – Work was being undertaken to review the process for the consideration of film classifications.

Patron behaviours – Members noted the comment that patron behaviours had changed post pandemic, as people re-entered society their focus was on enjoying their time out again which perhaps led to them having less regard to noise and behaviours and could cause friction with bar staff and security staff.

The Committee also noted a request that the End Violence Against Women and Girls working group be added to the Liaison Section of the Annual Report.

The Head of Service for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing introduced that part of the report relating to TPHL matters and highlighted the following key issues:

·  During 2021-22 the Section issued  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

The Chair reported on correspondence he had received from the Private Hire Trade seeking consideration of ‘dual operators’ which would allow Private Hire Drivers to work for two operators. The Committee agreed that this particular Private Hire Driver licence condition could be reviewed, and

RESOLVED - To undertake a review of the Private Hire Driver licence condition specifying a driver be registered with one operator.

To note the next meeting will be in the new Municipal Year and is proposed as Friday 26^th May 2023 at 11.00 am

RESOLVED – To note the next meeting is proposed as Friday 26^th May 2023 at 11.00 am.