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Agenda item

Licensing Service Overview 2015/16 to 2017/18

Report of the Director of Public Protection and Licensing (to follow)

Minutes:

7.1       The Chair stated that she had requested this item as it was a time as it was last meeting of the Council term to reflect on the licensing work which had been carried out since the previous Council election.  She thanked the Members of the Committee who would not be standing at the next Council election for their contribution.

 

7.2       The item was introduced by Steve Rowe, Licensing Senior Practitioner and Ros Hick, Team Manager.  Mr Rowe referred to some of the significant developments for the Licensing Service over recent years.  These included that the two Licensing Teams (premises based licensing and street based licensing) had merged during the previous twelve months.  The merger had been of benefit to customers as there was one service and officers as they were involved in all the different licensing regimes and it developed their understanding. 

 

7.3       Mr Rowe advised there had also been an increase in the number of applications received in the last three financial years.  On average there had been an approximate 30 applications a month increase.  There was a specific spike in applications in the months from September to November particularly due to the receipt of Temporary Event Notices relating to Christmas and New Years Eve.  Resources in the Licensing Service had been directed to where they were needed in response to these trends.   

7.4       Mr Rowe stated that trends relating to the Licensing Act 2003 applications received were also being examined by the Licensing Service on an ongoing basis.  The Licensing Act 2003 applications received over the last three years had been predominantly restaurant based.  The Committee noted that museums, galleries and leisure applications received was similar to those received for nightclubs, bars and pubs.  Mr Rowe also added that there had been a significant increase in demand for the Licensing Service’s pre-application advice service.  Advice at this early stage from the Environmental Health Consultation Team often led to applications complying with the Council’s policy so that they did not need to be considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee.

 

7.5       Ms Hick referred to some of the operational delivery successes.  These included the Council’s approach to gambling policy which had been discussed in item 5 of this agenda, joint working with the Council’s Health and Safety Team following the escape of a male silverback gorilla from its enclosure into a non-public area of London Zoo and working collaboratively with HM Immigration in developing the approach that London licensing authorities would take in checking the right to work documentation resulting from the Immigration Act 2016 and its resulting amendment to the Licensing Act 2003.  The Licensing Service had also worked with the Council’s Digital Transformation Team to implement its own integrated online application forms which were customer friendly and reduced the amount of work, including data entry, officers were required to do in this area.  Ms Hick advised the Committee that 70% of application forms were now received online.  Improvements had also been made to how street licensing was regulated, including working with other Council departments with regard to markets.    

 

7.6       Ms Hick mentioned that the emerging trends being identified by the Licensing Service included mixed use dining where premises would maximise their income with a clear split between a restaurant area and entertainment provided.  Also cafes, health shops and gyms were applying to sell alcohol.  Ms Hick said there were a number of potential impacts on the Service including General Data Protection Regulations implementation and the review of the street trading policy to ensure it is aligned with the market strategy.

 

7.7       The Chair asked for clarification on how the Licensing Authority classified films.  Ms Lawrence replied that there was collaborative working with the British Film Institute where officers within the Licensing Service viewed films and shared information with the BFI.  Officers were trained classifiers.  The Chairman requested further information on this service at the next Committee meeting in July.  Councillor Caplan requested information on what percentage of applications which were submitted following receipt by the applicants of pre-application advice had been granted under delegated authority.

 

7.8       RESOLVED: That (i) further information on the service undertaken by the Licensing Service with regard to film classification be provided to the next Committee meeting in July;

 

            (ii) That information be provided by officers on what percentage of applications which were submitted following receipt by the applicants of pre-application advice had been granted under delegated authority; and,

 

            (iii) That the contents of the report be noted.