Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which requests Members consideration to the draft Statement of Licensing Policy, the Cumulative Impact Assessment, a summary of changes and the ECDI Impact Assessment.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which sought the Committee’s consideration to the draft Statement of Licensing Policy, the Cumulative Impact Assessment, a summary of changes and the ECDI Impact Assessment.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents:

·  Statement of Licensing Policy 2019-2023 (Including proposed changes)

·  Public Consultation – Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy

·  Equality, Diversity, Cohesion and Integration (EDCI) screening form

Addressing the report the Principal Licensing Officer reported that Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 required licensing authorities to prepare and publish a statement of licensing policy every three years.  The council’s first Statement of Licensing Policy was adopted by Council on 12^th January 2005 and had            been reviewed every three years since then.  In April 2012 the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act changed the length of the lifetime of a policy from three to five years. 

Members may recall in January 2018 the Licensing Committee established a working group of five Members from this Committee to work with officers to review the Statement of Licensing Policy prior to public consultation in July to September of this year.  The working group looked at the cumulative impact and all six cumulative impact areas specified within it, as well as local licensing guidance and other more general matters.

The Principal Licensing Officer delivered a summary of each of the cumulative impact areas, including the crime statistics for the past year as well as the complaints statistics together with the Working Group’s recommendations.

Referring to the Headingley - City Centre corridor, Members queried if consideration had been given to the late night movement of students along this corridor and potential nuisance issues.

In responding the Principal Licensing Officer said in last few years student accommodation within the City Centre had increased substantially and as a consequence the student population was shifting from Headingley into the City Centre. No issues had been identified along the Headingley – City Centre corridor but the area would be kept under review.

Members noted there were no cumulative impact areas in the south of the city but recognized that some areas, Holbeck for example, had large numbers of premises licensed to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises, street drinking was also highlighted an issue.

Officers reported that the area along Dewsbury Road had been investigated and it was found there was no evidence of cumulative impact in the area. It was suggested that the Licensing Authority would continue to educate and put in place support services when considered necessary.

Referring to the Hyde Park area, one Member said he was aware of two premises licensed to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises 24 hours a day which had the potential to cause problems.

Officers reported that a review of the premises licence could be undertaken subject to the receipt of satisfactory evidence. In respect of alcohol related nuisance, proof would be required that the alcohol was purchased from a particular premises.

Members queried if there were any particular issues around City Centre late night dispersal.

The Section Head, Entertainment Licensing said that late night dispersal and public transport availability within the night time economy was an action within the Purple Flag accreditation. Through Purple Flag liaison was ongoing with the public transport providers and whilst there were limited night time services, it was doubtful that this would be expanded due to lack of demand, with taxis being the preferred choice of transport as they provide a door to door service.

Members queried if there were likely to be any challenges to the Statement of Licensing Policy.

In responding the Principal Licensing Officer suggested that possibly no challenges in the consultation stage but once in place challenges may be received.

In summing up the Chair thanked Members of the Working Group and Officers for their time and hard work commenting it had been a substantial and worthwhile undertaking.

RESOLVED –

(i)    To accept the submitted report and appendices which include a draft   Statement of Licensing Policy with tracked changes, the Cumulative   Impact Assessment, a consultation document and the ECDI Impact   Assessment.

(ii)    To approve a public consultation on the draft policy and the cumulative   impact assessment.