Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ronald Bowman, John Caller, John Loughlin and Diane Marsh.   Councillors Susan Howes, Makhan Singh, Andrea Webb and Adrian Warburton attended as their respective substitutes.

Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2007 to be signed by the Chair – minutes herewith.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2007 were signed by the Chairman.

To declare any interests Members may have in the items contained on this agenda. When declaring an interest a Member must state what their interest is.

No declarations were made.

The council, as the licensing authority, responsible for issuing of various licences, permits and notices relating to the use of premises for gambling activities had, under the Gambling (Premises Licence Fees) (England and Wales) Regulations which came into force on 21 May 2007,  been given the ability to determine fees - up to a maximum value - for processing these applications.  The responsibility for setting these fees had been delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services at the council meeting in April 2007.

The schedule attached to the report showed the fees Gravesham would be charging in respect of each type of application/licence.   These fees had been devised after following guidance given by the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DMCS) and from the experience gained when implementing the procedures necessary to comply with the Licensing Act 2003.   The accepted level of fees for most Kent authorities was approximately 70 per cent of the maximum whereas in Gravesham calculations carried out showed that the level should be 72 per cent, and this was the level at which they had been set.  

The committee noted that those premises expected to apply for licences and/or permits had been approached and provided with information that would assist them in making their applications.   This information is also available on the GBC website.

Resolved that the report be noted.

The committee received a report that included the statistics relating to the number of licences issued, the activity expected to be undertaken during the remainder of the current year and information about the enforcement process generally.    The policies, procedures and forms used during the various licensing/enforcement processes were appended to the report

To date 38 Club Premises, 349 Premises, 607 Personal and 239 Temporary Events licences and a number of other notices relating to changes of Designated Premises Supervisor, Transfer of Owner and Club Secretary had been issued.

Concern was expressed about the consumption of alcohol off licensed premises and the anti social behaviour of some customers when congregating outside.   Members were advised that it was not against the law to consume alcohol outside premises or in the street generally neither would it be against the restrictions imposed within an Alcohol Dispersal Zone (ADZ).   Licensees were not responsible for the anti-social behaviour of their customers upon leaving their premises and those people consuming alcohol within ADZs could only be “moved on” if they were behaving in an unsuitable manner and breaching the terms of the ADZ.    

Members questioned whether the current staffing levels of the Regulatory Services department was enough to cope with the possible implications of the no smoking regulations coming into force on the 1 July 2007.  They were reassured that with the additional member of staff, whose main priority would be to enforce/monitor these rules, the department would be able to cope.   This smoke free post is fully funded by Department of Health grant monies.

Members acknowledged the success of the proactive enforcement/inspection regime being followed in Gravesham and how this had resulted in no formal prosecutions having to be undertaken.  

Resolved that the report be noted.

The committee received a presentation from the Senior Licensing Officer in which she outlined the type and format of visits undertaken by licensing officers;  the records/reports kept of such visits;  the options for action to be taken once these inspections had been carried out and a summary of the enforcement regime within the borough.

The Chairman thanked Ms Hills for the informative presentation and for responding to members questions.