Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Senior Licensing Officer.

The Team Manager – Trading Standards and Licensing advised that the report had been submitted to obtain the support of the Statutory Licensing Committee for the revised Licensing Act 2003 - Statement of Licensing Policy. It was added that the Statement of Licensing Policy must be formally approved by full Council following approval by the Statutory Licensing Committee. It would thereupon be advertised in a local newspaper before coming into effect on 1^st October 2021. The Team Manager advised that if the preferred option was approved the Policy would be presented to Full Council in July.

The Team Manager advised that the Licensing Act 2003 required that the Authority publish a five yearly Statement of Licensing Policy which detailed how it would administer and enforce the Act.

The Team Manager further noted the key changes as outlined in the report and informed that the Statement of Licensing Policy had been devised with the Authority’s partners in 4 other local authorities in Gwent, so all have a broadly similar Statement of Licensing Policy. Although there were local differences based on the respective area. It was stated that the changes identified are mostly related to legislation and Local Government guidance changes.

The Team Manager further spoke to the report and outlined the key points in relation to current licences and the statutory consultation with was undertaken between 23^rd March, 2021 and 21^st May, 2021.

At this juncture, the Chair invited questions from Members.

The Vice-Chair noted that robust Statement of Licensing Policy and had hoped that the changes would make landlords realise that they have obligations outside of the parameters of their respective premises within the communities.

The Vice-Chair was disappointed that no comments had been received from Gwent Police, however, he was confident that in partnership with the Council’s partners the Statement of Licensing Policy would be adhered too.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Statutory Licensing Committee supported the revised policy as detailed in Appendix 1 and recommended that it was approved by full Council (Option 1).