11.1           The evacuation procedure, as noted on the Agenda, was taken as read. 

12.1           Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Mrs J E Day.  There were no substitutions for the meeting. 

13.1           The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Tewkesbury Borough Council Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 26 June 2012 and took effect from 1 July 2012.

13.2           There were no declarations made on this occasion.

To approve the Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 18 June 2015 and the Licensing Sub-Committee (Street Trading and Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators) meetings held on 23 July 2015 and 15 October 2015.

14.1           The Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 18 June 2015 and the Licensing Sub-Committee (Street Trading and Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators) meetings held on 23 July 2015 and 15 October 2015, copies of which had been circulated, were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman. 

14.2           It was noted that Minute No. LIC.7.3 of the Licensing Committee Minutes from the meeting on 18 June 2015 set out that the Committee had resolved to approve the renewal of the existing taxi and private hire policies and conditions until such time as a new policy was in place, but no later than 31 March 2016, with an update to be brought to the Licensing Committee meeting on 15 October 2015.  The Chairman advised that the meeting due to be held on 15 October had been postponed and, as such, Members were due to receive an update at the present meeting.  He confirmed that no further update was available and work was ongoing so this matter had not been included as an Agenda item for the meeting.

To agree that a six week consultation be undertaken on the Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Principles 2016-2019 and that it be recommended to Council for adoption with effect from 31 January 2016, subject to any relevant representations being received within the consultation period being reviewed by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Licensing Committee.

15.1           Attention was drawn to the report of the Licensing and Systems Officer, circulated at Pages No. 7-53, which asked Members to agree that a six week consultation be undertaken on the Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Principles 2016-2019 and to recommend to Council that it be adopted with effect from 31 January 2016, subject to any relevant representations being received within the consultation period being reviewed by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

15.2           The Licensing and Systems Officer explained that Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 required a Licensing Authority to prepare and publish a statement of its policy every three years.  One of the recommended changes was the inclusion of a Local Area Profile which provided more information about a locality and any particular concerns within that area.  In addition, from April 2016, operators would be required to assess local risk when they applied for a licence or to vary an existing licence.  When making their application they would need to consider the risk in terms of the three licensing objectives under the Gambling Act i.e. crime and disorder statistics in the area they were applying; the internal and external design of the premises and control measures in place; and any other factors.  Currently, operators generally carried out their own risk assessment but they did not include the whole of the local area.  It was noted that there would be no impact on existing licences.  The draft Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Principles 2016-19 included those changes and reflected the changes in the statutory guidance published at the end of September.  The whole policy had been reviewed, with non-relevant matters being removed and Plain English being used wherever possible, and was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  Whilst guidance recommended a 12 week consultation, given the timescales available before the next Licensing Committee meeting, as well as the ability of the Licensing Team to engage with stakeholders and consultees at short notice, it was recommended that the consultation be held for six weeks.  Any responses received during the consultation period would be taken into account and considered by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Licensing Committee before being taken to the Council for adoption.

15.3           A Member sought clarification as to the difference between slot machines A, B and C and was advised that very detailed guidance was published by the Gambling Commission; however, the main difference was maximum stake and price.  The Member indicated that restaurants often had machines and she questioned whether they were licensed.  In response, the Licensing and Systems Officer confirmed that, since the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005, only establishments which held a premises licence for the consumption of alcohol on the premises, and had applied for the entitlement, were permitted to have a gambling machine.  Another Member went on to query whether there was any restriction on the number of licences in a particular area and was advised that, whilst there was no fixed number of licences which could be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.1           On a proposal from the Chairman, it was

RESOLVED          That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely discussion of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To approve the separate Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee (Street Trading and Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators) meetings held on 23 July 2015 and 15 October 2015.

17.1           The separate Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee (Street Trading and Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators) meetings held on 23 July 2015 and 15 October 2015, copies of which had been circulated, were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.