Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Janet Gardner.

None.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

Stephanie Waterford, Senior Licensing Officer introduced the officer’s report and informed the Licensing Committee that Parliament had recently approved the Legislative Reform (Entertainment Licensing) Order 2014, which would come into effect on 6 April 2015.

The order exempted activities in licensed premises such as live music and recorded music, up to 11pm, for an audience of up to 500.  Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling would also be exempt up until 11pm for audiences of 1000 whilst travelling circuses would have no audience limit.  Members noted that the impact of the deregulation order will be the surrender of approximately twenty premises licences.

Ms Waterford highlighted that many of the Councils own premises licences for theatres, halls and other premises will also be altered to reflect the changes.  Members questioned whether there would be a reduction of TENs application.  It was explained that there would be a number of events in which the Council and Police would lose notification process that an event would be taking place.  Members were concerned that some events would come off the radar.

Ms Waterford informed Members that she would obtain the figures so that the Committee could compare the effect of the order.  There would now be no audience limit for events where alcohol is not sold.  PC Ian Wares thought that the change in legislation was positive; however, it could cause problems at bigger events.  Members were reminded that various regulations and laws would still apply and would be enforced by the relevant agencies.

Resolved - That the Committee noted the change in legislation and that Ms Waterford provides the Committee with a breakdown of how the changes will affect some licensed premises.

Sgt Nick Davies of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) gave a presentation on licensing initiatives to the Licensing Committee.  The purpose of the presentation was to inform Members of licensing options to address street drinking associated with anti-social behaviour.  There were two main areas that would be focused on which included Uxbridge and Hayes Town Centre, as these were the areas that generated the most complaints from residents; however, Sgt Davies explained that these issues were still under reported.

Three suggestions were put forward to Members which included:

·         Reduce the strength

·         Minimum Unit Sales

·         Can/bottle marking

Sgt Davies explained that reducing the strength initiative could go hand in hand with single unit sales.  Reduce the strength initiative had been implemented in several other London Boroughs and its purpose was to restrict the sale of beer/lager/cider over a set volume of alcohol.  Sutton Council had written the initiative into its Licensing Policy, whilst Hounslow Council had added it as a minor variation at no cost to the Licensee.  Sutton Council's set volume of alcohol was 5.5%, any product over this percentage would be sold at room temperature.  Hounslow Council had set a limit of 6% chosen to placate the Polish community as there were several Polish beers that had a volume of 6%.

Sgt Davies explained that can/bottle marking had been trialled in Uxbridge North and Hillingdon East Wards but was not very successful, perhaps due to them not being problematic areas.  Slough Council had provided shops, which had voluntary signed up to the initiative, with a UV pen.  Cans and bottles were marked at the point of sale and breaches could result in a review of the Licence.

Sgt Davies suggested that all three schemes be implemented and trialled in the two previously mentioned Town Centres with support from the Neighbourhood Policing Team.  A set percentage would need to be authorised by the Licensing Service and Police.  Other Boroughs had set the following limits:

·         Tower Hamlets - 6.5%

·         Greenwich - 6%

·         Southwark - 7%

·         Barking and Dagenham - 6.5%

·         Hammersmith and Fulham - 5.5%

·         Sutton - 5.5%

Sgt Davies informed the Committee that Hillingdon could conduct a 12 month trial of the initiatives which could be reviewed after 6 months.  Breaches of the Responsible Retail Agreement could be used as evidence for a Licensing review.  Whilst Uxbridge and Hayes Town Centre had been chosen as the appropriate wards to trial these initiatives Members were reminded that these areas covered 2 to 3 wards and would therefore be confined to a ½ mile radius.

Members were aware that there were 3 supermarkets within the Uxbridge Town Centre and 7 Off Licences and that there were 4 supermarkets and 16 Off Licences within the Hayes Town Centre.  The Chairman suggested using the Southwark model and also the importance of confiscating alcohol.  Sgt Davies informed Members that Tesco in Uxbridge sold a 9% wheat beer that cost £6; these types of products were not the type that a street drinker would buy.

Members discussed the can/bottle marking initiative and suggested that shopkeepers were not on board with the idea due to the additional staffing time and cost.  Members thought that the scheme could be abused by shop keepers by putting a different number on the can/bottle.  Members questioned whether responsible adults would be penalised if they wanted to purchase an alcoholic beverage.   Sgt Davies reminded Members that the focus was on tackling the problematic areas and that most responsible drinkers would not be purchasing single units. 

Members discussed the anti-social behaviour issues associated with street drinking.  Some Members had issues in their ward with street drinkers congregating in local parks and were concerned that street drinkers would be pushed somewhere else.  Wards such as Uxbridge North only had issues associated with street drinkers seasonally, such as during the summer months. 

Stephanie Waterford, Senior Licensing Officer and the Chairman reminded the Committee that Cabinet approval would need to be sought from both the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services and the Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration.  The proposals could be justified as they would protect residents and improve the Town Centres.  Ms Waterford highlighted that it would be positive to implement these initiatives before summer. 

Resolved - That the Committee noted the presentation and welcomed further exploration into the initiatives promoted by the MPS.