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Agenda item

Licensing Charter and Nightsafe Project

Presentation and Question and Answer session to be provided at the meeting (Powerpoint document included in agenda papers).

Minutes:

3.1      A presentation was given to the Committee by Kerry Simpkin, Licensing Service Team Manager and Heidi Lawrance, Senior Licensing Officer entitled ‘Expanding the Licensing Charter beyond the pilot and introducing the Nightsafe Initiatives - Enhancing our safe and prosperous evening and night time economy’.  The presentation powerpoint slides were included in the agenda papers. 

 

3.2       The matters raised in relation to the presentation included the following:

 

·           The Chair requested that there was a change in emphasis for future ‘drinkaware’ campaigns away from the ‘stay with your pack’ slogan as the pack of wolves concept had a frightening connotation.

·           The Chair asked who it was intended would be the Nightsafe Ambassadors working on Friday and Saturday evenings.  Ms Lawrance replied that the Licensing Service was looking at working with Team London, a group of volunteers linked with the Greater London Authority.  They offered tourist information and volunteered at events.  They had previously been involved at the London Olympics in 2012.  There would also be discussions regarding recruiting volunteers with universities, community groups, Team Westminster and the Street Pastors.  All trained volunteers would be DBS checked.

 

·           The Chair sought clarification on NHS engagement in the Nightsafe Project.  Ms Lawrance responded that the Licensing Service was in talks with the Clinical Commissioning Groups (‘CCG’) and the London Ambulance Service.  They supported the Project but wanted to see how it progressed before providing any formal assistance.

 

·           Mr Simpkin advised that the Licensing Service was learning from the experience of the use of safe spaces, including in Swansea and Clapham.  The Portman Group had produced a toolkit on the key considerations relating to the safe spaces.  One of the key elements was the collection of base data.

 

·           Councillor Hyams welcomed the Nightsafe Project and the use of volunteers.  She asked whether the Licensing Service had considered finding a sponsor to cover the cost implications of the Project.  Mr Simpkin replied that finding a sponsor was one of the key future objectives.  Funding of £100K had been secured over a two year period from the Leader’s Fund.  The emphasis was on establishing the model and proving that the model works.  It was hoped that once this was proved it would be handed over to a commercial entity to run it.

 

·           Councillor Freeman asked whether the Nightsafe Ambassadors and Police would be patrolling or static.  Mr Simpkin replied that the Nightsafe Corridor was where it was planned there would be a high visibility presence, including the Police and Nightsafe Ambassadors.  Ms Lawrence added that the Ambassadors would be on the move, interacting with people.  Venues would also be able to call the Ambassadors if there were any vulnerable individuals in their premises.

 

·           Councillor Scarborough asked whether there were any plans to extend the Nightsafe Project beyond Friday and Saturday nights and whether it would be in operation on Bank Holidays.  Ms Lawrance replied that it was intended that the Project would be in operation on Bank Holidays and during large scale events, such as Pride.  Mr Simpkin confirmed that the Project was also likely to be in operation on New Year’s Eve, including in the event this date did not fall on a Friday or Saturday.  He mentioned that Thursdays had been looked at for the Nightsafe Project but it was not possible to extend the Project beyond Fridays and Saturdays at this time due to lack of funding.  Volunteers were also more likely to be available during weekends. 

 

·           Councillor Acton asked where the Nightsafe Hub was likely to be located.  Mr Simpkin informed the Committee that the location was yet to be finalised.  Charing Cross Library was earmarked as a potential Hub site if an alternative site could not be found in the locality.  Businesses would be consulted on potential sites.  He clarified that the Hub would be a secure environment with security at the door and it would not be open to the public to walk in and out.  The Police would be utilising it as a headquarters.  Councillor Acton suggested that there was the option to discuss with the CCG a potential Hub site at Soho Square.

 

·           Councillor Caplan expressed support for the objectives of the Licensing Charter.  However, he emphasised that businesses were being asked to sign up to do what they were already required to do in terms of their premises licences.  This was to promote the licensing objectives.  It was vital that there was not the reward of less enforcement action for those businesses who signed up to the Licensing Charter initiatives.  Sara Sutton, Director of Public Protection and Licensing, stated that this point was accepted.  It would help to inform the risk based approach to inspections.  There would be an increased confidence in management through sign-up to the Charter.  In the event, however, there were issues and enforcement was required, a robust approach would be taken.

 

3.3       RESOLVED: That the presentation was noted by the Committee.

 

Supporting documents: