Decision details

The Customer and Commercial Services and People Portfolio Holder presented a report on the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. He highlighted that the need for a current Statement of Licensing Policy is critical to protect the Council’s residents and Licensed Premises interests and that by acknowledging the need for a continuation to the current Statement of Licensing Policy, which expired in January 2021, the Council would be able to better support licensed premises as they reopen following lockdown.

Members were informed, that the proposed continuation was purely in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and that by agreeing the continuation of the current Statement of Licensing Policy, the authority would be able to conduct a considered and thorough review of the Policy, working closely with the Licensing and Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The Portfolio Holder added that the continuation would also allow for meaningful consultation with the stakeholders set out in the report to ensure that the Statement of Licensing Policy was robust and properly serves the needs of those parties for the next 5 year period.

During discussion on the item, Members thanked Officers for the report, expressed their support for the continuation of the Statement of Licensing Policy and requested that Members of the Licensing Committee be made aware and involved in the continuation of the Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Operational Lead (Specialist Services) informed Members that the report had been discussed with the Chair of the Licensing and Licensing Regulatory Committees and would be published as an Emergency Non-Executive Decision.

No Member having raised concern when asked by the Chairman, it was

RESOLVED – That:-

(1)  the continuation of the Statement of Licensing Policy for a further period of 12 months effective from 5 January 2021 to 5 January 2022 be authorised;

(2)  any decisions and actions taken under the Licensing Policy between 5 January 2021 and 23 March 2021 be retrospectively authorised; and

(3)  in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the consultation requirement for the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy be delayed, to an  appropriate time but before 5 January 2022.