Agenda and minutes

Councillor D Southern substituted for Councillor H Rayner.

Councillor S Armitage declared a personal interest as a personal licence holder.

Resolved- That the minutes of the proceedings of this committee held on 1 July 2021, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing (Activities) Sub-Committee held on 12 August, 24 August, 2 September and 18 November 2021 be received.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee held on 16 August, 23 September and 11 November 2021 be received.

The Director: Operations circulated the council’s Statement of Licensing Policy for consideration. 

In accordance with Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 (the Act), there was a requirement for the policy to be reviewed every five years.  

The Act stipulated that in reviewing the policy, the council must consult the police, fire and rescue service, licence holders, persons representing licence holders and other businesses or persons as it deemed suitable.

A copy of the current licensing policy was attached at Appendix A to the report.

The responses to the consultation were included at Appendix B to the report.

The committee discussed the changes to the Policy, including the responses received during the consultation.

Recommended to Council – That the Statement of Licensing Policy be approved and adopted following the period of consultation.

The Director: Operations circulated the council’s Statement of Principles for consideration. 

In accordance with Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act), there was a requirement for the policy to be reviewed every three years.  

The Act stipulated that in reviewing the policy, the council must consult the police, fire and rescue service, licence holders, persons representing licence holders and other businesses or persons as it deemed suitable.

A copy of the current Statement of Principles was attached at Appendix A to the report.

The responses to the consultation were included at Appendix B to the report.

The committee discussed the changes to the Policy, including the responses received during the consultation.

Recommended to Council – That the Statement of Principles be approved and adopted following the period of consultation.

The Director: Operations informed the committee that the Cumulative Impact Policy was introduced in 2008, before being reviewed in 2012  The aim of the policy was not to reject all applications for a licence within the boundary of the Cumulative Impact Zone as all applications needed to be determined on their own merits.

The aim of the policy was to create a presumption that where representations were received from a responsible authority, then the application should be refused, unless the applicant could show that the proposed application would not add to the cumulative impact being experienced.

There was no legal requirement for the Policy.  However, it was introduced in North Lincolnshire following evidence, gathered by Humberside Police, relating to increased crime and disorder within Scunthorpe Town Centre.

Since the Policy was approved by this Committee the level of crime and disorder within Scunthorpe Town Centre had decreased.  As such the Policy required reviewing to ensure it was still fit for purpose.

Resolved – That the start of the consultation to review the Cumulative Impact Policy be approved.

The Chairman brought to the Committee’s attention his concerns over the use of 3D and 4D registration plates on its licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles.  This followed reviews of drivers vehicles licences that had been referred to the Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee for consideration following the installation of 3D and 4D registration plates.

The Committee then discussed the use of the 3D and 4D registration plates.

Resolved – That the Director: Operations liaise with the North Lincolnshire taxi trade over the use of 3D and 4D registration plates on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles.

The Chairman informed the Committee that he had been contacted by concerned North Lincolnshire residents over the availability of wheelchair accessible Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles.

Members discussed the comments made by the Chairman.

The Director: Operations responded to the points made by the Chairman and members of the Committee.

Resolved – That the position be noted, and reviewed in six months time.

The Director: Governance and Partnerships informed the Committee that no appeals against decisions of the Licensing (Activities) Sub-Committee or Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee had been submitted to the Magistrates Court for consideration.

There were no urgent items for consideration by the Committee.