A report of the Licensing Committee recommending to Council to adopt the amended Statement of Licensing Policy 2018/2023.

Council received a report from the Licensing Committee (Licensing Act 2003) meeting held on 26 September 2018, which included the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ report

RESOLVED –

that Council, acting as the Licensing Authority for the Borough of Watford, adopts the amended Statement of Licensing Policy for 2018-2023, as attached to the report as Appendix 1 at the Licensing Committee (Licensing Act 2003) at its meeting on 16 October 2018.

A report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services asking the Committee to finalise the policy and recommend it to Council for adoption.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services.  It set out the consultation and the associated responses in relation to the review of the Statement of Licensing Policy - and asked the committee to finalise the policy and recommend that it be adopted by the council.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report.  He discussed how the Committee had previously agreed, at its meeting on 25 June 2018, the process by which officers would carry out the review and he read the recommendation as outlined on Page 148 of the report.

He discussed the role of the council as the licensing authority under the Licensing Act 2003 and how it was required to prepare, consult and keep under review a Statement of Licensing Policy.  He explained how the review had taken account of the Cultural Plan recently approved and the vision for the town centre that was currently under development. 

The Senior Licensing Officer described the consultation process that had taken place between 6 July 2018 and 17 August 2018, and summarised the responses received in the various policy areas (as described in paragraphs 5.0 to 5.13 in the report).  He advised members how comments containing allegations were progressed. 

In response to questions from the committee, the Senior Licensing Officer:

·        Confirmed that some consultation responses had included complaints in relation to Whippendell Road.

·        Explained how a Licensing Sub-Committee would determine whether a particular premises fell within a ‘leisure’ or ‘residential’ location (as defined).

·        Outlined what was meant by the term ‘Sensitive Licensing Area’ and the range of tactics that could be deployed when licensing problems occurred in other areas.

·        Advised that there was one licensed premises in Cassiobury Park.

The Chair thanked the officers for their detailed work in the preparation of the committee reports.

Resolved –

1.      That the Licensing Committee recommended to Council, acting as the Licensing Authority for the Borough of Watford, it adopts the amended Statement of Licensing Policy for 2018-2023 as attached at Appendix 1 at its meeting on 16th October 2018.

Chair

Licensing Committee (Licensing Act 2003)

The meeting started at 7.30 p.m.

The meeting started at 7.00 p.m.

and finished at 7.35 p.m.