Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 12 June and 26 June 2015 as correct records.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 12 June and 26 June 2015 be signed by the Chairman as correct records.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by members in connection with an agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised during the public participation period.

To receive the findings of the Sky Lanterns Task & Finish Group.

Members considered the report of the Sky Lanterns Task & Finish Group. The Task & Finish Group was established following a question submitted to the Council on 23 February 2015 by Cllr Mrs Bennison regarding the release of sky lanterns on Council owned property.

Cllr Mrs Bennison, Chairman of the Task & Finish Group addressed the Committee on the work of the Group. She thanked officers for an excellent briefing paper and  explained that the Group were keen to take action to discourage the use of sky lanterns, given the dangers and risks they posed. The Group had agreed a set of actions to discourage the release of sky lanterns, as set out in Appendix 1, and recommended their adoption. Cllr Mrs Bennison added that she hoped a joint approach with the New Forest National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission could be achieved.

RESOLVED:

That the actions set out in Appendix 1 relating to an amendment to the Statement of  Licensing Policy, under the Licensing Act 2003, be approved.

To recommend to the Council that the Licensing Act 2003 - Statement of Licensing Policy for 2016-2021 be adopted with effect from 7 January 2016.

The Committee considered the responses to the consultation on the review of the licensing policy.  

It was explained that his was the first of three licensing reviews, and that gambling and taxi reviews would come forward to the Committee in due course, after consultation with interested parties. Members were invited to raise any issues in conjunction with these, and noted that the licensing officer would report on any issues that required the Committee’s consideration. One example was the licensing of electric vehicles for use as taxis. At present the policy did not provide for such vehicles, but officers’ knowledge of the trends in the taxi trade indicated that it was likely that an application would come forward in the near future. The Committee would welcome such an issue being submitted to them for consideration.

Members discussed ways of informing interested parties of changes in licensing regulations, and it was suggested that a simple to follow guide be made available.

The licensing officer undertook to look for a readily available guide and circulate to members if available. 

Members asked detailed questions and discussed related issues, and agreed with the changes to the policy recommended by the Sky Lanterns Task & Finish Group.

RECOMMENDED:

                        That the Statement of Licensing Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes, be adopted as the Council’s Statement of Policy under the Licensing Act 2003, to remain in force from 7 January 2016 until 6 January 2021.

RECOMMENDED:

That the scheme of delegation of powers to officers to updated to include the officers shown in bold italics below: -

RESOLVED:

That the scheme of delegation of powers to officers be updated as follows (officers shown in bold italics below):

The Committee is requested to fix its meeting dates for 2016/2017. The following dates are suggested (all Fridays at 9.30 a.m.):-

10 June 2016

9 September 2016

11 November 2016

13 January 2017

10 March 2017

RESOLVED:

That the Committee meets on the following dates in 2016/17 (all Fridays at 9.30 a.m.):-

10 June 2016

9 September 2016

11 November 2016

13 January 2017

10 March 2017