Members of the Committee were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

Resolved - That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2013 be approved.

The Licensing Panel was appointed at the last meeting of the Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee held on 22 May 2013 (minute 4 refers).

The Committee is invited to review the appointments to the Licensing Panel.  The current membership is as follows:

The Committee were invited to review the appointments to the Licensing Panel.

The Membership of the Licensing Panel was discussed by Members and it was

Resolved –

(1)  That Councillors A Jones and A Hodson replace Councillors P Glasman and A Sykes as Members of the Licensing Panel.

(2)  That Councillors I Williams and M Sullivan replace Councillors B Mooney and S Hodrien and Councillor A Sykes replace Councillor L Fraser as Deputies of the Licensing Panel.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment sought Members’ views upon the introduction of a new Designated Public Places Order within the Parliamentary Constituency area of Birkenhead under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

Sergeant S Barrigan attended the meeting together with Sergeant M Roberts and Inspector Chris Lucan-Pratt.

Merseyside Police had provided a bundle of evidence to support their request for a DPPO in Birkenhead.  Sergeant S Barrigan reported that there had been 108 incidents of street drinking related anti-social behaviour, 8 incidents of alcohol related anti-social behaviour and 12 incidents of street drinking related violence from 1 January to 30 July 2013.

Sergeant Barrigan advised Members that the Designated Public Places Order would be an important tool in reducing the number of incidents of alcohol related crime and disorder.  He informed Members that Merseyside Police would use the additional powers provided by the DPPO to stop people drinking alcohol and confiscate any alcohol in a person’s possession in the Birkenhead area.  He reported that a petition had been received signed by 462 local residents/businesses who were in support of the request to have the DPPO extended.

Sergeant Barrigan and the Licensing Manager responded to questions from Members of the Committee.

It had been identified that there would be cost implications to introduce a DPPO in Birkenhead, however, the Licensing Manager advised that it would be implemented in the most cost effective way.  Sergeant Barrigan also discussed the possibility of funding being provided through sources outside of the Council.

Members agreed that action needed to be taken to address the problems of people abusing alcohol and supported the proposals of Merseyside Police.

It was moved by Councillor S Niblock and seconded by Councillor P Williams that -

“the Council go out to consultation on the proposed DPPO and that the consultation be undertaken in an economically efficient way.  If however the cost is prohibitive this must be reported back to a future meeting of this Committee.”

Resolved – That the Council go out to consultation on the proposed DPPO and that the consultation be undertaken in an economically efficient way.  If however the cost is prohibitive this must be reported back to a future meeting of this Committee.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment advised Members of the additional powers and responsibilities imposed on local authorities as a consequence of the implementation of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

The Licensing Manager reported that the new regime commenced on 1 October 2013 and that every Scrap Metal Dealer would be required to have a licence that would be valid for a period of three years and that operating without a licence would be a criminal offence.

The Licensing Manager informed Members that upon scrutiny of the legislation, it had been determined that the delegation of the functions of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 could not be undertaken by this Committee and must be undertaken by the Cabinet.

The Licensing Manager responded to questions from Members and advised that a seminar would be held on 14 October 2013 in order to assist scrap metal dealers to comply with the new legislation.

The Chair requested that a further seminar be arranged in order that all Members of the Council may attend.

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That a seminar be arranged for all Members of the Council regarding the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.