Agenda and minutes

Resolved

That Councillor Michael Gibbard be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any interests and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 December 2009 and 19 May 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2009 and 19 May 2010 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 30 November 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 30 November 2009 were noted.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 15 January 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 15 January 2010 were noted.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 24 March 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 24 March 2010 were noted.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 20 August 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 120 August 2010 were noted.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 22 October 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 22 October 2010 were noted.

Report of Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services

Summary

The development and adoption of the Statement of Licensing Policy is a statutory requirement under the Licensing Act 2003. The function of approving the Statement and the subsequent reviews of it are the responsibility of the Licensing Committee in accordance with Cherwell District Councils Constitution and Scheme of Delegation. The current Statement was approved by Full Council for a period of three years in 22 October 2007. The publication date of the Statement of Licensing Policy was 1 January 2008.

This report seeks final approval of the Statement of Licensing Policy. A number of amendments have been made to the current policy statement further to the consultation exercise. As with the development of the current policy statement we have liaised with the other district councils in Oxfordshire and have, where appropriate, incorporated amendments suggested as a result of the consultation process.

The details of the consultation responses and any resulting proposed amendments are attached as appendix 1. All amendments are highlighted by track changes within the policy statement at appendix 2.

Recommendations

The Licensing Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Consider the schedule of responses and proposed alterations on the draft statement of licensing policy and decide whether any draft policies should be altered, omitted or others included.

(2)               Authorise the Head of Urban & Rural Services in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, to make any minor alterations to the policy should the publication of regulations make expressed policies inconsistent with the regulations (NB – this would only apply up to the point of publication on Wednesday 5 January 2011, thereafter any alterations would be subject to full consultation in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003).

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services which sought final approval of the Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Licensing and Vehicle Parks Manager advised Members that the development and adoption of the Statement of Licensing Policy was a statutory requirement under the Licensing Act 2003. The function of approving the Statement and the subsequent reviews of it are the responsibility of the Licensing Committee in accordance with Cherwell District Councils Constitution and Scheme of Delegation. The current Statement was approved by Full Council for a period of three years on 22 October 2007 and was published on 1 January 2008. Once published the Licensing Authority must review the Statement triennially.

The Committee was advised that a consultation had taken place between 8 September and 15 November 2010. Further to this consultation a number of amendments had been made to the current policy statement. As with the development of the current policy statement the council had liaised with the other district councils in Oxfordshire and had, where appropriate, incorporated amendments suggested as a result of the consultation process.

The Licensing and Vehicle Parks Manager gave an overview of the consultation responses and any resulting proposed amendments. Members asked a number of questions to seek clarity to which answers were duly given.

Resolved

(1)               That the schedule of responses and proposed alterations on the draft statement of licensing policy be noted.

(2)               That the Head of Safer Communities, Urban & Rural Services be delegated, in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, to make any minor alterations to the policy should the publication of regulations make expressed policies inconsistent with the regulations (NB – this would only apply up to the point of publication on Wednesday 5January 2011, thereafter any alterations would be subject to full consultation in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003).

Report of Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services

Summary

To advise the Licensing Committee of the consideration given by the Head of Safer Communities, Urban & Rural Services (SCURS) when exercising his delegated powers in determining an application for exception to Licensed Vehicle Policy.

Recommendations

The Licensing Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Note and endorse the consideration given by the Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services when determining applications for exception to Policy as detailed in the contents of this report.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services which advised Members of the consideration given him when exercising his delegated powers in determining an application for exception to Licensed Vehicle Policy.

Resolved

(1)               That the consideration given by the Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services when determining applications for exception to Licensed Vehicle Policy be noted and endorsed.