Agenda and draft 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 contained no exempt information.

No late items of business were added to the agenda.

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

No declarations of interest were made/the following declarations of interest were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Haigh and Councillor Senior.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 6^th August 2024.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held 6^th August 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory seeking consideration for the Dewsbury Road area of the Hunslet and Riverside ward to be assessed for cumulative impact at the request of the Safer Stronger Communities Team and Public Health. The report includes the relevant cumulative impact assessment and the Committee is asked to decide if there is sufficient evidence to warrant proceeding and, if so, to approve the assessment be taken out to the public and affected businesses for a public consultation.

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, submitted a report seeking consideration of a request for the Dewsbury Road area of the Hunslet and Riverside ward to be assessed for cumulative impact. The request had been submitted by the Safer Stronger Communities Team and Public Health and the report included the relevant cumulative impact assessment. The Committee was asked to decide if there was sufficient evidence to warrant proceeding and, if so, to approve that the assessment be released for consultation with the public and affected businesses.

A copy of the ‘Cumulative Impact Assessment Beeston’ was included in the report at Appendix 1 with a copy of Amended Section 7 of the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy attached as Appendix 2.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report outlining the methodology used to assess the area and highlighting the following:

·  The Dewsbury Road area of Beeston was the subject of additional resources with a multiagency problem solving group looking at solutions to antisocial behaviour and crime in the area.

·  The increasing number of shops and takeaways licensed for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises in the area and the availability of alcohol was impacting on the levels of antisocial behaviour in the area.

·  Information gathered from local businesses and residents revealed that the city-side of Cross Flatts Park was an area of most concern, however the crime and nuisance recorded in that area was relatively low compared to the data recorded for the Beeston Hill side of the park.

·  It was suggested that the assessment should focus on off-licence premises operating at any time, and late-night takeaways.

During discussions, the following matters were considered:

·  It was noted that cumulative impact assessment areas implemented elsewhere in the city had been successful in addressing public nuisance or anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol consumption, especially when linked to other measures, such as the Clear, Hold, Build approach in Harehills.

·  There were 44 off-licence premises in the Dewsbury Road area.  The Committee noted a CIA was primarily designed to deal with anti-social behaviour and public nuisance.

·  The focus of the assessment was on premises with an off-licence, rather than those premises which held an on-licence and provided a safe space place for consumption of alcohol.

(Councillor Downes joined the meeting at this point)

·  Issues of public nuisance in the area in the form of litter surrounding late night take-aways was a further reported problem of local concern.

·  The Committee noted that the proposed Beeston CIA would form part of the Statement of Licensing Policy and would be reviewed every three years. Adjacent areas not falling within the Beeston CIA will be monitored to establish whether there should be future inclusion in the Beeston CIA. 

The Committee supported the proposal for consultation on a Beeston CIA and recognised CIAs as an additional tool to assist Member decision making at Licensing Sub Committee hearings. Members welcomed the report that work was ongoing to make an approach to the new Government seeking to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections & Regulatory advising that the triennial review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy is underway with the public consultation having taken place. The report highlights the responses provided to the public consultation and any subsequent amendments to the Licensing Policy. 

Further to minute 16 of the meeting held 8^th July 2024, the Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer Elections & Regulatory which advised the triennial review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy had commenced with the 4 week public consultation having taken place. The report highlighted the contents of the three responses received to the consultation and any subsequent amendments to the Licensing Policy.

A copy of the consultation report detailing the amendments to the Policy following initial review and the public consultation was attached as Appendix 1 to the report with a copy of the amended policy included as Appendix 2.

As the Policy formed part of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework, the Policy would be considered by Scrutiny Board and Executive Board before being recommended for adoption by Council.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report and highlighted the following matters –

·  In light of anticipated changes to the Gambling Act 2005, the Gaming Commission advised a light touch review be undertaken, with a full review to follow once the new legislation was passed. However, a full review was undertaken in recognition that some of the language used was out of date, and to also update the relevant statistics and link to the strategies and polices of the Council,

·  The consultation report at Appendix 1 detailed the comments made in the three consultation responses received from the Betting and Gaming Council, Gamcare and Talarius/Luxury Leisure, and set out the Licensing Authority’s response to each, drafted in conjunction with the Public Health and Financial Inclusion teams and the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

·  The draft Policy had been presented to Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) on 16^th September 2024.

The Committee noted comments expressing support for the work undertaken by the Entertainment Licensing team particularly in relation to responding to the consultees.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 19^th November 2024 at 10.00 am

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 19^th November 2024 at 10.00 am.