Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members were asked to consider whether they had personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any items on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.

No such declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2012.

The Committee was requested to received the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March, 2012.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March, 2012 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee is invited to appoint a Vice-Chair for the ensuing municipal year.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management requested that a Vice-Chair be appointed for 2012/13.

It was moved by Councillor C Jones and seconded by Councillor I Williams that -

“Councillor Steve Niblock be appointed Vice-Chair of this Committee.”

Resolved - That Councillor Steve Niblock be appointed Vice-Chair of this Committee for 2012/13.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that Standing Order 33(1) required that Committees should keep the need for panels under review and, in particular, the position must be reviewed at the first meeting of a Committee in each municipal year.

He set out the terms of reference of the Licensing Panel and indicated that if it was to be retained in 2012/13 with seven members, the allocation of those places would be 4 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat.

He reported that as a result of a High Court judgement, only named deputies may attend panel meetings in place of a permanent member.  Standing Order 25(6)(a) permits appointment of up to a maximum of eight deputies for each political group and deputies are normally called to serve in the order in which they are nominated.

Unless appointed as full members, the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the three largest political groups represented on the Council are entitled to attend meetings of all Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels, with the right to speak at the Chair’s invitation, but not to vote (Standing Order 25(5) refers).

Members of the Committee enquired about training prior to Licensing Panels.  The Licensing Manager confirmed that she would provide training to Members specifically on licensing issues, however, she clarified that the terms of reference of the Committee included issues that would be the remit of other officers of the Council.

Councillor George Davies raised concerns regarding the remit of the Committee on the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975.

Councillor Bill Davies suggested that the relevant officer be contacted regarding this and requested that a report be brought back to the next meeting of this Committee.

Councillor George Davies endorsed the request that a report be brought to the next meeting of this Committee and that a special meeting should be arranged prior to the next scheduled meeting should this prove necessary.

Resolved -

(1)  That the Licensing Panel be re-appointed for 2012/2013 with the terms of reference identified.

(2)  That the following members be appointed to serve on the Licensing Panel in 2012/2013:-

(3)  That a report be brought back to the next meeting of this Committee regarding the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management updated Members in respect of the current situation regarding funding for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage training.

The Licensing Manager responded to questions from Members of the Committee.

Councillor S Niblock wished to place on record his thanks to officers for their hard work regarding training for drivers of private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.

Resolved - That the report be noted.