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The Committee received report ES-1605 of Councillor Ninnmey, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Community Health. Councillor Ninnmey introduced the report which presented the Draft Statement of Licensing Policy. The Committee was required to review the policy every five years. Following review by the Committee there would be a public consultation and then approved by Full Council.
The Senior Licensing Officer summarised the purpose of the policy. The policy set out how the authority managed applications for premises licences. In the case of licences where no objections were received, these were granted as applied for. When an objection was received, the policy set out the process that should be followed to manage the application from this point. The policy was based on the four licensing objectives which were the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. The Policy also set out the Council's basis for making a decision should any decision be challenged in court.
The only substantive change in the policy was the inclusion of point 24, which dealt with the ancillary delivery of alcohol and/or late night refreshments. This service was becoming more widely available following Covid-19 and so this had been included in the policy to ensure this area was covered.
Following a question from Councillor Patience on licences for selling alcohol from a vehicle, officers confirmed that the sale of alcohol was not permitted from a moving vehicle. Companies that set up temporary bars from converted vehicles at various events had to apply for a licence for each event, or use the premises licence at that particular site if there was one in place. Officers also confirmed that riverboats were permitted to sell alcohol which would be covered by a premises licence.
Councillor Jepson asked what guidance had been issued on proof of age for home deliveries. The Licensing Manager and Housing Lead Lawyer confirmed that whatever policy was used on a premises should also be used for home deliveries offered by that premises, and that most premises had a Challenge 25 policy in place. Councillor Reeves asked how this applied to third party delivery apps and officers confirmed that any third party service also had to follow the policies from the premises they were delivering for. If a premises used a service that did not follow this policy then the premises licence could be revoked. The third party would be dealt with through other channels.
On the proposal of Councillor Hedgley, seconded by Councillor Plummer, it was
RESOLVED
That having considered the proposed amendments to the draft revised edition of the Statement of Licensing Policy, it be approved.