Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allen-Williamson and Trebar

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2023 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 28 September 2023 were submitted and signed.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented the report to the committee, providing a rundown of the context and history behind the Cumulative Impact Assessment. No significant changes occurred in the town centre, as highlighted in the report, which incorporated data from the Police. The Police recommended the continuation of the existing policy, noting that crime figures remained consistent with those of 2019 despite the impact of COVID-19.  Given the absence of significant improvement or deterioration, it was proposed to maintain the current policy.

The Senior Licensing Officer responded to a question about how Watford compared to nearby towns, emphasising that the report focused on Watford. The police area was identified as a matter of concern, and unfortunately, no benchmarking data was available at the time.  There was a discussion about enhancing the survey distribution to ensure a higher response rate than in previous surveys.

There was a deliberation about enhancing the survey distribution to ensure a higher response rate than in previous surveys. The Senior Licensing Officer explained that the communications team would handle the distribution, as they routinely performed this task for other departments. They were aware of the issues and had implemented changes, including switching to a different platform due to accessibility concerns. Additionally, the Officer was reminded that councillors had recommended sending the survey directly to them for distribution within their respective wards.

The Senior Licensing Officer discussed the various groups who would be consulted, including the Police. The council's assessment encompassed environmental health, addressing noise complaints, and incorporating feedback from businesses and residents. Additionally, other responsible authorities were approached in the process.

In response to a query about whether the policy was overly restrictive for businesses, the Senior Licensing Officer clarified that no feedback indicated that businesses found the restrictions burdensome. Exemptions were built into the policy, particularly for establishments such as restaurants. The Officer highlighted that the policy focused on the nighttime economy from 10 pm onwards, emphasising the necessity of specific measures like entry systems and door staff. While there was a strong encouragement for these policies, it was clarified that there was no strict obligation to refuse applications. The presumption, instead, leaned towards granting applications with appropriate conditions.

There was a discussion about the level of alcohol-related crime, referencing information from the current statement set in 2021. The consensus explored why the Police identified it as an issue. The discussion specifically delved into alcohol-related offences occurring between 7 pm and 4 am, with alcohol being a prominent factor in these instances. The exemption applied to premises where patrons sat down to consume alcohol. The focal point of the discussion was post-10 pm, aimed at addressing and decreasing the incidence of alcohol-related offences during this timeframe.

In response to a question about engaging licensed premises, the Senior Licensing Officer mentioned writing to licensed venues directly and through Pub Watch. Enforcement officers attended monthly Pub Watch meetings.

The Associate Director of Housing and Wellbeing responded to a question regarding the impact of police measures on businesses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.