Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED - Councillor Hutchison was elected Chair for 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 was no exempt information.

There were no late items of business, however there was a supplementary document of officer comments for agenda item 6, Leeds INDIs Film Festival.

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

There were no declarations of interests.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory regarding an application for the certification of a series of films to be screened as part of Leeds INDIs Film Festival between 17^th and 26^th February 2023 at The Pyramid Theatre, Leeds University Union, Lifton Place, Leeds, LS2 9JT.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory advised the Licensing Sub Committee of an application for the certification of eleven films as a part of Leeds INDIs Film Festival to be held between 17th and 26th February 2023 at The Pyramid Theatre, Leeds University Union, Lifton Place, Leeds, LS2 9JT.

The applicant had provided advance screeners and recommended classifications for each film. A copy of each request, including a synopsis and the applicant’s suggested rating, was included at Appendix A of the submitted report.

To assist Members with their deliberation, officers of the Licensing Authority had viewed the available films and provided Members with their comments on the applicant’s recommended rating when considered in accordance with the BBFC classification guidelines.

Present at the hearing was the applicant, Deborah Maturi, Director of Leeds INDIs Film Festival.

The applicant provided the Committee with a background to the film festival. The Leeds Independent Film Festival (Leeds INDIs) is one of three festivals co-ordinated by Leeds City Council, along with Leeds International Film Festival and Leeds Young Film Festival. Leeds INDIs has a focus on ensuring young people aged 15-30 can access film representation which is not catered to by the multiplex offer.

Members noted that the film entitled “Full of Grace” had been withdrawn ahead of the hearing. Of the remaining ten films for consideration, Members discussions focussed on the following four films:

• Moja Vesna due to strong language

• The Land of Sacha due to strong language and a brief and discreet sex scene

• Shabu due to strong language

• Sonne due to a scene of prolonged animal torture

RECOMMENDED: That the films to be screened as part of Leeds INDI’s Film Festival be awarded the following certifications –

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Regulatory and Elections regarding the application to vary a premises licence held by Tavernaki Bistro Ltd, Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DW.

Due to the applicant and Environmental Protection coming to an agreement ahead of the hearing, this application was withdrawn ahead of the Committee.