No apologies for absence were received from Councillor Saffery.

There were no disclosures of interest. 

To submit for signature the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2013.

(All minutes are available on the Council’s website).

The minutes of the meeting held on the 22 October 2013 were submitted and signed.

Since the last Committee the following Licensing Sub-Committee hearings have taken place:

• Melo Café (31 October 2013) Councillors Crout (Chair), Jeffree and Lynch
• The Villiers Arms (25 November 2013) Councillors Crout (Chair), Lynch and Mills
• 111 Leavesden Road (20 December 2013) Councillors Jeffree (Chair), Meerabux and D. Scudder
• Oceana (20 January 2014) Councillors J. Brown (Chair), Derbyshire and Meerabux
• Hollywood Bowl (23 January 2014) Councillors Derbyshire (Chair), Lynch and Meerabux

Licensing Sub-Committee minutes are available to view on the Council’s website:
 http://watford.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=133

The Committee received an update on the Licensing Sub-Committee hearings which had taken place since the last Committee meeting. 

The minutes were submitted to the Chairs of each Sub-Committee to be signed.

Report of the Head of Community and Customer Services

The Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services which asked the Licensing Committee to note the annual report for 2013.  The report outlined the number and nature of hearings held over the past year, as well as details of the applications to vary licences and forthcoming national changes to the licensing regime.

          The Licensing Manager introduced the report.  He noted that there was an error in paragraph 3.23; there were four sensitive licensing areas, rather than three. He added that the date that the drinking banning orders were to be replaced would be later in 2014, rather than 2013 as stated in 3.39 of the report. 

The Licensing Manager reported that none of the off-licences which underwent test purchases in 2013 had failed. He also gave more details about the new Public Spaces Protection Orders which Watford may be involved in piloting. 

Following a question from Councillor Dhindsa, the Licensing Manager confirmed that the ban on low-costs alcohol sales referred to in paragraph 3.48 would prevent alcohol being sold for less than the cost of the tax and VAT.

          RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.