Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Allen.

Councillor Kreling was in attendance as a substitute.

At this point Members must declare whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest, or other interest, in any of the items on the agenda, unless it is already entered in the register of members’ interests or is a “pending notification “ that has been disclosed to the Solicitor to the Council.

Members must also declare if they are subject to their party group whip in relation to any items under consideration.

There were no declarations of interest.

         The minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2013 were approved as a true and accurate record.

i)                    07/01/13 – 86-88 Lincoln Road, New Premises Licence

ii)                  28/01/13 – Super Poli, 613 Lincoln Road, Review of Premises Licence

The following minutes from the Sub-Committee Hearings held in January 2013 were approved as true and accurate records.  

         i) 07/01/13 – 86-88 Lincoln Road, New Premises Licence

ii) 28/01/13 – Super Poli, 613 Lincoln Road, Review of Premises Licence

         The Committee received a report which had been compiled as a result of the consultation carried out on the proposed amendment to the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy to include a Cumulative Impact Policy in respect of the area in the city known as the Operation CAN-do area.

         The Committee was requested to consider the contents of the report which included the representations and evidence received following the public consultation and it was further requested to provide a recommendation in respect of the extent of the special policy and whether to include all licensed premises, off sales only, on sales only, or on and off sales and also whether to include Late Night Refreshment.

         In December 2012, concern had been expressed by Council Officers as to the perceived saturation of licensed premises within the Operation CAN-do area and to the negative effect these premises were having on the Licensing Objectives.

         The Licensing Committee met on 21 January 2013 and approved the commencement of a consultation on the review of the Statement of Licensing Policy to include a special policy in the Operation CAN-do area.

         A consultation had been carried out with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority and those persons/bodies representing the trade and businesses as well as local residents both by way of direct communication and by publicity on the Council’s website and local press. The consultation had commenced on 22 January 2013 and ended on 4 March 2013.

         The responses to the consultation had been positive in nature and included 22 responses from local residents and representatives of residents, and a petition. Responses had also been received from the Neighbourhood Delivery Team, Public Health and Cambridgeshire Constabulary and a vast amount of evidence had been submitted in support of the responses.

         It was highlighted that under the guidance issued to Licensing Authorities under Section 192 of the Licensing Act 2003, there should be evidential basis for the decision to include a special policy within the Statement of Licensing Policy. The Committee was therefore requested to determine whether sufficient evidence had been presented in order for a recommendation to be made to Full Council to include a special policy for the Operation CAN-do area within the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

         Members debated the report. Comments and responses to questions included:

·         The local residents who had responded to the consultation were situated throughout the Operation CAN-do area;

·         A number of maps had been submitted alongside the committee report which detailed the locations of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. These were extremely informative;

·         Since the changes in the licensing regime, there had been a substantial increase in the numbers of premises selling alcohol;

·         There was an inordinate amount of crime in the area which had increased with the influx of licensed premises;

·         The implementation of a Cumulative Impact Policy would increase the Sub-Committees powers of refusal;

·         It would be possible to implement additional Cumulative Impact Policies in the future to cover other areas of the city, however  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.