Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Cubitt, Derek Sales and Richard Smith.   Councillors Bronwen McGarrity, Susan Howes and Makhan Singh attended as their respective substitutes.  Apologies were also received from Councillor Peter Barbutti.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 June 2007- previously circulated.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 13 June 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.

Chief Inspector Cooper, who was accompanied by PC Clarke, highlighted all of the major events and achievements the North Kent Police had made during the previous 15 months.  Inspector Cooper circulated  detailed statistics that illustrated how much crime figures had reduced and stated that he felt these would continue to fall as the partnerships formed to control crime and the causes of crime (including alcohol)  within the boroughs of Dartford and Gravesham forged ahead with their plans.   When questioned by members Chief Inspector Cooper acknowledged that people’s perception of policing or, the lack of it, within the borough was unfortunate and that he would continue work to change these perceptions.

The Chairman thanked Chief Inspector Cooper and his colleague PC Clarke for their contribution to the evening and wished them all success with their efforts against crime and anti-social behaviour.

Note:   Councillor Michael Snelling spoke with leave of the Chairman on this item.

The committee was advised that the current Alcohol Consumption in Designated Public Places for the Area of Gravesend Order 2007 came into force in May 2007.  This order had replaced the two previous orders that covered separate areas of the town.

The new order, which combined and clarified the areas affected by the two previous orders, now also included areas where anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol consumption had taken place.  

Members were reminded that the effect of the Order was to make it an offence for any person not to comply with a request from a police officer or a PCSO to stop drinking alcohol and/or surrender any alcohol containers in their possession.  

Resolved that the report be noted.

Gravesham was one of the signatories to the Kent & Medway Licensing Enforcement Protocol which had been developed in conjunction with all other local authorities in Kent, the Kent police, Kent Fire & Rescue Service and Kent County Council as a response to the Licensing Act 2003. 

1.      The committee was advised that this protocol had recently been amended to take account of the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 following receipt of the Gambling Commission guidance on enforcement and compliance.

2.      Resolved that the revised Kent and Medway Licensing Enforcement Protocol be adopted.

The committee was advised that the Council was required to undertake a review and publish a new Statement of Licensing Policy before the deadline of 7 January 2008.

In undertaking the review it would be necessary to take account of newly revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.  Initial discussions had shown that most changes appeared to be of a minor or administrative nature and would easily be incorporated into the Kent wide template.   Any revisions to the appendices to the policy (which related solely to Gravesham) would be the subject of discussion between officers and other responsible organisations.  Once the amendments had been formulated the new Statement would be the subject of a comprehensive six week consultation exercise.  Those whom the Council would consult were laid out in the Licensing Act.

Comments received as a result of the exercise would be incorporated into a table and this, along with a number of recommendations, would be submitted to the committee for consideration in November 2007.   The Council would then need to consider any recommendations made and formally adopt the policy before the deadline.

Resolved that the review process as outlined in the report proceed.