Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and hear any person who wishes to address the Committee. The Chairperson will select the order of the matters to be heard. Each person will be limited to a period of five minutes. Public participation time must not exceed thirty minutes.

Requests and full statements must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Director Governance and Monitoring Officer, or to the officer mentioned at the top of this agenda letter, by noon on the day before the meeting and the request must detail the subject matter of the address.

None.

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

If the Member leaves the Chamber in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairperson is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

None declared.

31 October 2023 to approve as a correct record (attached)

Resolved: that the minutes from the Licensing Committee held on 31 October 2023 be approved a correct record.

None.

Report of the Director of Public Health and Regulatory Services (attached)

The Director of Public Health and Regulatory Services’ representative presented the report on the year-end report for the administration and enforcement of all licensing regimes.  The report presented policy revisions for discussion ahead of public consultation, and a summary of some of the main activities carried out by the Licensing Team within the financial year 2023/2024.

Members of the Licensing Committee were advised that the temporary legislation introduced during the Covid pandemic allowing use of additional outside spaces had been extended until September 2024.  They were also advised that this is likely to be incorporated into permanent legislation at this time, and to review the current Street Café Policy at this time would not be the best use of resource as there may need to be changes again later in the year.  Given that the current policy is still fit for purpose, and regularly updated in line with the temporary legislation, members were invited to extend the existing policy for a year until the changes in legislation have been finalised.

Members of the Licensing Committee were invited to consider the draft revision of the Street Trading Statement of Principles and to agree its content before a period of public consultation. Members were also invited to note some of the outcomes and challenges to the administration of licensing regimes undertaken by the North Somerset Council Licensing Service in this financial year.

Members asked questions in relation to the proposed changes in the Street Trading fees for events and observed how this would be beneficial for vendors, who would profit from a reduction in fees for those returning frequently. It was discussed that there would be efficiency savings for the council in terms of administering and renewing events permits. Members were told that the permit would be for between two and fifteen events annually. There was a conversation detailing the current permit transfer arrangements, the measures in place to prevent pitch blocking and the current challenges experienced.

Members noted that the proposals outlined in the report were designed to support events, markets and regular traders.

Members were advised that the relationship with the Home Office Immigration Service continues to strengthen. This has been useful and revealing in all matter of license condition breaches.

Members noted that the implementation of “Taxi Cop” in the locality has yielded helpful intelligence sharing but there are significant complexities with the National Database. Members also noted the challenges posed by drivers who operate within North Somerset under licenses issued by other authorities. Feedback to the policy changes concerning taxis that were implemented in January 2024, has been largely positive and licensing officers continue to support drivers who may be eligible for exemption subject to individual judgment.

Resolved:

       i.          that the Licensing Committee agreed an extension to the current Street Café Policy until 2025 to allow for legislative changes.

      ii.          that the Licensing Committee considered the revisions to the Street Trading Statement of Principles and noted this would be presented to the committee again in October 2024.  ...  view the full minutes text for item LIC20

For a matter to be considered as an urgent item, the following question must be addressed: “What harm to the public interest would flow from leaving it until the next meeting”.  If harm can be demonstrated, then it is open to the Chairperson to rule that it be considered as urgent.  Otherwise the matter cannot be considered urgent within the statutory provisions.

None.