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.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2014.

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2014 be approved.

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

It was moved by Councillor J Salter and seconded by Councillor A Hodson that Councillor Steve Niblock be appointed Vice-Chair of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee until such time as a new Licensing Act 2003 Committee is appointed.

Resolved - That Councillor Steve Niblock be appointed Vice Chair of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee until such time as a new Licensing Act 2003 Committee is appointed.

The Committee is requested to appoint the Licensing Act Sub-Committee for the ensuing year.

In 2013/14, each Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee was comprised of three members and one reserve member drawn from the pool of fifteen Committee members. The Chair was appointed on the day of each meeting.

The Head of Legal and Member Services requested that the Committee appoint the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee with the term of membership to be continued until amended or otherwise changed by the Committee and until such time as a new Licensing Sub-Committee is appointed.

Resolved -

(1)  That each Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee meeting be comprised of three members to be drawn from the pool of fifteen Committee Members as follows:

Councillors Bill Davies, Steve Niblock, George Davies, Tony Norbury, Louise Reecejones, Denise Roberts, John Salter, Harry Smith, Mike Sullivan, Eddie Boult, Gerry Ellis, Andrew Hodson, Mike Hornby, Dave Mitchell and Pat Williams.

(2)  That the Chairs of the Sub-Committees be appointed on the day of each meeting.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment submitted a report to advise Members of the outcome of the public consultation undertaken in response to a request received to amend the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy to include a Special Cumulative Impact Policy for an area of Birkenhead.  The report also provided Members with an update from Merseyside Police in respect of this proposal.

The Licensing Manager advised Members that further to the consultation having been circulated to the appropriate bodies in accordance with Section 5(3) of the Licensing Act 2003 and publicised on the Council’s website, no comments or evidence had been provided from residents or businesses to support the introduction of a Special Policy.  One written response had been received from Brian Kenny who had been a Ward Councillor at the time of the consultation.

Members were advised that Merseyside Police had undertaken a review of their evidence during the consultation and had since given consideration to new initiatives within the Birkenhead area to address anti social behaviour.  Members were informed that Merseyside Police had advised that they were not seeking the introduction of a Special Cumulative Impact Policy within the Birkenhead area at the present time but that this would be kept under review.

Sergeant Barrigan attended the meeting.  He reported that the Charing Cross area was a high risk location in relation to alcohol related crime and disorder and advised Members that other initiatives had been introduced to target the ongoing issues being suffered by residents and businesses in the area.  Sergeant Barrigan referred to the introduction of the Seven Beats Initiative, and advised that the intention was that an overall improvement to quality of life issues experienced in the area would be achieved by adopting a targeted approach with additional resources.

Sergeant Barrigan reported that the size of the area covered by the seven beats was different from the area that had been proposed to be covered by the Special Cumulative Impact Policy and that this area would now be monitored and kept under review.  He further advised that it may be the case that should the current initiatives not be effective, the Police would potentially seek a Cumulative Impact Policy to be included within the Licensing Authority’s Statement of Licensing Policy for the ‘seven beats’ area at some point in the future.

Sergeant Barrigan referred to the need for the Licensing Objectives to be upheld when considering future applications and stated that Merseyside Police were satisfied at this time that the existing Home Office guidance on Cumulative Impact together with the Licensing Authority’s newly revised Statement of Licensing Policy could be used to assess the merits of future applications received.

The Chair and Members of the Committee thanked Sergeant Barrigan for his work.  The Chair also gave his thanks to officers and Members of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee for their work in the previous municipal year.

Resolved – That the report be noted.