Issue - meetings

A report from the Executive Director (Operations) is attached

The Executive Director (Operations) submitted a report with regard to the requirement for the Local Authority as Licensing Authority to prepare and publish a statement of Licensing Policy at least every five years.  The existing Statement of Licensing Policy was agreed by Council on the 21^st October 2015 and took effect from the statutory deadline of the 7^th January 2016.  To comply with the statutory five year review period, the outcome of the review must be agreed before the 7^th January 2021.      

If the Authority does not have a revised policy in place by 7^th January 2021 it will be unable to fulfil its duties under the Act.

In preparing the Policy a Licensing Authority had to have regard to the Secretary of State’s guidance under Section 182 of the Act.

A copy of the proposed new statement of Licensing Policy was attached to the report.

The consultation had been in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines which required a twelve week period of consultation.  Feedback from the consultation was attached to the report and incorporated where relevant.

The Policy would need to be agreed by Council to adopt at its meeting on the 25 November 2020 for implementation by 7 January 2021.

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That Council agree to adopt the Licensing Policy as outlined in the report.