Agenda and minutes

It was confirmed that all items on the agenda would be considered in public.

Agreed as an accurate record.

Prior to the meeting Members had sight of the proposed recommendations with officers' comments. At the meeting officers took Members through the proposed recommendations and made suggestions to improve the purpose and clarity of some of the recommendations.

The following changes were agreed between Members and officers:

1)    LAs with a low number of shisha premises and Establish and maintain a definitive list/registered of shisha premises to deal with the perceived problem related to the shisha industry should  and to develop a preventive approach to ensure uncontrolled proliferation of shisha premises does not occur.

20) In Boroughs where resources were strained, prosecution enforcement   should be a last resort and officers should liaise with other agents to maximise legislative powers including powers of closure. Focus should therefore be a reactive response with monitoring of high risk shisha premises.

Members and officers agreed to change all reference to Local Authority or LA to the Council or The London Borough of Hillingdon.

It was suggested that ASBIT would hold responsibility of the definitive list/ register and would work collaboratively with all Licensing teams, Planning teams, Trading Standards, Members and Street Champions to raise awareness and add up to date information on the register. It was also suggested that strong encouragement would be given to all Council officers to add information to the register through E learning training.

During discussions, Members noted that any areas where commodities were being sold, in this case tobacco, a license was required. Appropriate signage needed to be displayed to highlight the risks associated with shisha. Members agreed that a softer approach to the matter would be productive. This would be achieved by encouraging people to let the Council know about illegal shisha places so that appropriate action could be taken. The register would also highlight safe establishments who were complying with legislation and enforcements. Members noted that in other Boroughs, such as Harrow, a list of guidelines were produced which showed the enforcements to be complied with. This shifted the onus on to the shisha premises owners to ensure that there were complying with relevant guidelines.

RESOLVED -

1)    That the proposed recommendations are collated and renumbered in terms of departmental remits. 

2)    That Food, Health and Safety Team confirm that they are satisfied with the recommendations which fall within their remit.

3)    That legal advice is sought in relation to proposed recommendation 20 about the legalities of using enforcement as a last resort.

4)  That approval be given in principle to the draft recommendations and that these be taken forward and be included in the draft final report for the review. 

Members were asked to identify suitable review topics. The following topics of review were suggested:

·         The feasibility of turning local plastic waste into road surfaces. 

·         An investigation into the use of illicit drugs in the Borough. Members noted that there had been an increase in the number of silver canisters being left lying around. An investigation into what the Council was doing about illicit drugs and how extensive was police legislation in this area.

·         An update on the Council's fly tipping policy

·         A review into the Borough's road strategy, road maintenance and speeding. To include an investigation on what happens to the results from speed monitoring exercises.

·         An update on planning and major developments.

·         An update on flooding in the Borough focussing on whether a data base has been put together and what the Council's current flood management strategy is.

RESOLVED -

1)    That the suggested topics for the review be noted.

Resolved -

1)    Members noted the forward plan.

2)    Members requested further information on the receipt and processing of collected kerbside co-mingled recyclables and the accreditation of the Museum, Archives and Local Studies Service & approval of related policies.

The work programme was noted. The Chairman indicated that the meeting on 20 June 2017 may need to rearrange due to availability.

Resolved -

The work programme was noted.