Agenda and minutes

To receive and record apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H Farrow, B Gibb-Gray, O Kennedy and M Wilson

To approve the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 12 June 2013.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 June 2013 were approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

To receive and record any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interests from any of the members present.

The Chairman reported that he had attended the majority of Pubwatch meetings. It was confirmed that all members of Pubwatch had adopted an agreement whereby any member failing to attend more than three Pubwatch meetings would no longer be able to access the scheme.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 3 October 2013.

The minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 3 October 2013 were approved as a correct record.

The Committee considered a report outlining the findings of the unmet demand survey for Hackney Carriages which was conducted in July and August 2013.

In order to retain a limit on the number of Hackney Carriage licences issued by Havant Borough Council, Department for Transport (Dft) best practice guidance and previous case law required that a survey was conducted to determine whether there was any latent or patent unmet demand within the area of the licensing authority.

Ian Millership of CTS Traffic & Transportation Ltd was invited to join the meeting for the debate on this item and answered a members question in connection with the report.

The Committee commented on the thoroughness of the report and in response to a question it was confirmed that the final sentence on page 36 of the agenda should read: “In the 23:00 hour, five waited, but for no more than two minutes”.

RESOLVED that the current limit of forty Hackney Carriage licenses issued by Havant Borough Council be retained.

The Committee received a report from the Licensing Officer seeking the views of the Licensing Committee with regard to the Council’s draft Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005, following a twenty-eight day consultation period, prior to its submission to Full Council for approval.

Havant Borough Council (as the Licensing Authority) was required by the Gambling Act 2005 to publish its Statement of Principles every three years. The policy had to be published before the Authority could carry out its licensing functions. When drafting the policy, the Council was required to consult certain persons and groups of persons in the area, namely;

·        The Police;

·        Representatives of gambling businesses in the area;

·        Representatives of persons likely to be affected by the exercise of the Authority’s functions under the act

The period of consultation closed on 23 October 2013 and the officers reported that no responses had been received.

The draft Statement of Principles was circulated for the Committee’s consideration. In response to a question the Licensing Officer agreed to circulate to members details of the different categories of gaming machines.

The Committee requested that the amendments set out below be incorporated within the draft Policy prior to its consideration by Full Council.

(A)         RESOLVED that the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles be amended as follows:

(i)            Paragraph 10.12.1 be amended to read “…may have no more than three gaming machines…”

(ii)          All references relating to persons under the age of 18 be made consistent; and

(iii)         All references to “licenses” be amended to read “licences”.

(B)       RECOMMENDED to Full Council that the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (as amended) be approved.