Report of the Senior Licensing Officer

RESOLVED –

1.         that the policy detailing the application process for the new pavement licensing regime attached as appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

2.         that officers in the Environmental Health (Business) Team be given delegated power to determine applications for licences under this legislation with appeals and any revocations of Licences being determined by either the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services or the Head of Community Protection.

3.         that the fee for each Licence be set at £100.

4.         that, if any significant changes occur to the requirements for licences once the legislation is enacted, the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services in consultation with the Mayor be delegated to make any necessary changes to the policy.

Please note this decision is not eligible for call-in as the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that it can be dealt with under Part 4, Section 3, paragraph 16 Special Urgency procedures in the Council’s Constitution.

Cabinet received a late report of the Senior Licensing Officer which put forward a new pavement licensing scheme.

Councillor Collett explained that the Business and Planning Bill was still progressing through Parliament.  This temporary policy would allow businesses to serve drinks and food outside, following an application to the council.

The Head of Community Protection added that the Bill was currently at the House of Lords stage.  When enacted it would come into immediate effect.  In order to avoid delays in applications it was essential to get the policy approved as quickly as possible.  Officers had been able to map potential locations through GIS.

The Mayor said that this showed an overall approach of working with businesses and provided an opportunity to bring more vibrancy to the town.

Councillor Bell thanked the Head of Community Protection for all the work she and her team had carried out throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following a question from the Mayor about the application fee, the Head of Community Protection advised that the maximum permitted charge was £100.  The majority of local authorities in Hertfordshire intended to charge the maximum fee.  However some were only granting the licence for a set period, for example three or seven months.  This would mean that businesses would have to reapply and pay another fee.  Watford Borough Council would issue licences that ran through to September 2021, when the proposed legislation was due to expire. It would be less of a burden for businesses and the council.  She reminded members that the bill was still progressing through Parliament.  It would be effective as soon as the Bill received Royal Assent.

The Group Head of Democracy and Governance advised that a further recommendation was required –

“If any significant changes occur to the requirements for licences once the legislation is enacted, the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services in consultation with the Mayor be delegated to make any necessary changes to the policy.”

RESOLVED –

1.         that the policy detailing the application process for the new pavement licensing regime attached as appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

2.         that officers in the Environmental Health (Business) Team be given delegated power to determine applications for licences under this legislation with appeals and any revocations of Licences being determined by either the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services or the Head of Community Protection.

3.         that the fee for each Licence be set at £100.

4.         that, if any significant changes occur to the requirements for licences once the legislation is enacted, the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services in consultation with the Mayor be delegated to make any necessary changes to the policy.