Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of Substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Cllr J Frost and Cllr S Chenore attended as his substitute online.

To receive any questions from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:  A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no members of the public present and no questions were asked.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 30 June 2023.

The minutes of the 30^th June 2023 were APPROVED and signed by the Chairman.

To provide the Committee with an update on Licensing Act 2003 activity undertaken by the Licensing Team in the first half of 2023/24.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, the Service Update.

The contents of the report were outlined by the Team Leader, Commercial, Public Health and highlighted the following:

·         The report provided an overview of the activity carried out by the Licensing Team during the first half of 2023/2024.

·         Mid Devon District Council had a total of 406 licensed premises under the Licensing Act 2003.  During quarter 1 and 2 of this year the Licensing Team dealt with applications from 10% of the total number of licenced premises in the District.

·         The Service had received a large number of Temporary Event Notices (TENs), totalling 225 in first two quarters of the year.

·         Discussions had taken place with organisers of the Mid Devon Show, who were looking at the option to apply for a premises licence for the whole site rather than continuing with multiple TENs.

·         15% of the TENS received were for the Mid Devon Show.

·         Licensing Officers had conducted 15 inspections of licenced premises resulting from complaints or information received that indicated a non-compliance.

·         There had been 1 application considered during the first half of 2023/24 by the Licensing Sub-Committee.  The Hearing outcome was removal of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) and a period of suspension during a weekend in October 2023.  A new DPS was now in place.

·         Due to an amendment in the Statutory Guidance, all new applications had to consider the potential of a terrorist event taking place.

·         Following a consultation, the Government had now commenced a number of changes to the late-night levy.

·         Provisions in relation to pavement licences in the Business and Planning Act 2022 had been extended by regulations until 30 September 2024.

·         A review of the Licensing Policy occurred every five years and this would be coming in the next 12 months.

Consideration was given to:-

·         Public safety around spiking drinks and a request from the Committee to invite Top Stoppers to give a presentation at a future meeting.

·         The obstruction of pavements and the effect upon people with sight problems when café’s place tables on the pavements and businesses place A Frames outside with a request from the Committee for an update on legislation at the next meeting.

·         Writing to the premises involved in the application above to confirm the weekend that it closed in October 2023.

Note: * Report previously circulated.