Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services (copy enclosed) updating members following the statutory consultation process on the Review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and seeking approval of a final policy for submission to Cabinet for approval.

RESOLVED that –

(a)      the proposed recommended amendments to the draft policy as detailed in Appendix C (column 4) along with Proposals 1 – 4 and 6 in Appendix B be approved as a final draft policy, and

(b)      officers be instructed to move the final draft policy for approval at Council.

The Senior Licensing Officer (SLO) submitted a report (previously circulated) updating members following the statutory consultation process associated with the review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, and sought a recommendation from the Committee on a final policy for submission to Council for approval. [It was clarified that final approval of the draft policy rested with Council and not Cabinet as referenced in the report.]

The Council was required to consult upon and prepare a Statement of Licensing Policy at least every 5 years.  The current policy had been effective from 1 April 2017 and the Licensing Committee had authorised officers to commence the statutory consultation to review the existing policy in September 2021.  A review had been undertaken in partnership with other North Wales local authorities for consistency.  Details of the consultation process had been provided which had resulted in one consultation response from an interested party (a national brewery) and one from the Local Health Board (LHB), both of which related to the Public Health Section of the policy only.  North Wales Police had supported the proposed changes.  Appendices to the report included the draft policy, summary of the proposed changes, consultation responses and officers’ comments and recommendations thereon and the existing policy.

The SLO drew members’ attention to the consultation responses in Appendix C together with the reasoning behind officers’ recommended amendments in column 4.  It was the first time the LHB had submitted comments as part of the statutory review and their input had been very much welcomed given their expertise in public health.  Some of the comments from the interested party had been mitigated to their satisfaction with no amendment required and other comments had been addressed by the recommended removal of statements and statistics to be replaced with information provided by the LHB and suggested for inclusion within the policy statement.  [It was noted that on page 118 of the report references to ‘Appendix C’ in column 4 should read ‘Appendix 3’].  Members were asked to either approve the draft policy subject of the consultation without changes, or approve the recommended proposed amendments to the draft policy as detailed at Appendix C (column 4) along with proposals 1 – 4 and 6 in Appendix B (which had attracted no representations), and instruct officers to move the policy for approval at Council.

Members considered the draft policy along with the consultation responses received and officer recommendations in response thereto.  The Chair acknowledged the comprehensive document and paid tribute to those involved in its production.  She was also pleased to note the recent engagement of the LHB in licensing matters and their input into the policy statement, reflecting the importance of public health.  In response to questions, the SLO detailed the merits of the response from the LHB which provided relevant, up to date information to replace the statistics which could become dated over the lifetime of the policy, and she recommended approval of the amendments as set out and inclusion of the LHB suggestions in the policy statement.

Having considered the draft Statement of Licensing Policy along with the responses received as detailed at Appendix C it was –

RESOLVED that –

(a)      the proposed recommended amendments to the draft policy as detailed in Appendix C (column 4) along with Proposals 1 – 4 and 6 in Appendix B be approved as a final draft policy, and

(b)      officers be instructed to move the final draft policy for approval at Council.