Agenda and minutes

To seek nominations for the election for the position of Chair.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Buckley be elected to Chair for the duration of the meeting.

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 and Scrutiny Support at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

1)  To highlight reports or appendices which:

a)  officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

b)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

c)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information

2)  To note that under the Licensing Procedure rules, the press and the public will be excluded from that part of the hearing where Members will deliberate on each application as it is in the public interest to allow the Members to have a full and frank debate on the matter before them.

There were no exempt items.

There were no late items.

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.

The report of Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory advises the Licensing Sub Committee Members of an application for the certification of numerous films in respect of the Leeds International Film Festival. All screenings are scheduled to take place between 3rd November 2020 and 19th November 2020 at Leeds Town Hall, Vue Cinema in the Light, and City Varieties.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory advised Members of an application for the certification of numerous films in respect of the Leeds International Film Festival.

In attendance at the meeting were:

·  Alex King -  Programme Manager, City Development

·  Chris Fell – Leeds Film Manager, City Development

As the Sub-Committee had not had access to view 61 of the 62 films to be shown, the Legal Officer requested confirmation that none of the films to be shown could be classified as R18 certification. It was noted that none of the films could be classified as R18, however some of the films did contain adult content.

The Licensing Officer informed the Sub-Committee that all screenings were scheduled to take place between 3rd November 2020 and 19th November 2020 at Leeds Town Hall, Vue Cinema in the Light, and City Varieties.

A total of 62 films had been submitted requiring classification, however the applicant only had access to a link for the viewing of 1 of those films which was ‘Sun Children’ and it was proposed that this should be classified as 12A.

For Members information the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) was attached at Appendix A of the submitted report.

Mr King had provided the Sub-Committee with a list of films to be shown at the festival with a synopsis and a suggested certification. This was appended to the report at Appendix C.

Mr King informed Members that the Leeds International Film Festival was an event which had been running for 34 years, the films are shown at various venues across the city.

Mr King advised Members that some of the films had been BBFC certified with the remaining films not released in this country.

Mr King suggested that all the films but one should be certified as 18, with a suggested certification of 12A for the ‘Sun Children’. Mr King advised the Members that most audiences at the festival would be adults.

Responding to Members questions Mr King said that the films would be similar to those shown in previous years certified as 18. He provided Members with the reassurance that no films would be shown which in his experience should be rated R18. It was noted that some of the films would contain scenes of a sexual or violent nature and bad language.

The Legal Officer suggested going through the list so that Members could provide their comments. However, Members were in agreement that they were happy to accept Mr King’s reassurances that the 18 certifications suggested were appropriate.

Mr King said that most audiences to the festival were adults who enjoyed specialist films, which would not usually be shown in cinemas. Films suitable for children and families usually take place at an Easter event.

Members considered the suggested certifications for each film.

RESOLVED – To grant the certifications to the following films to be shown at the Leeds International Film Festival, between 3^rd to19^th November 2020:

·  A lovers Discourse: Internal Short Film Competition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.