The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and those watching the webcast.

The Chair confirmed the apologies of Councillors David Burgess-Joyce and Karl Greaney.

Members of the Committee are 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.

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 of the Licensing Act Committee held on 24 November 2021.

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2021 be approved.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the Licensing Panel meetings held on 22 October, 5 November, 12 November, 12 November and 26 November 2021 and 20 January, 6 April, 7 April and 21 April 2022.

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Panel held on 22 October, 5 November, 12 November, 12 November and 26 November 2021 and 20 January, 6 April, 7 April and 21 April 2022 be approved.

The Committee is requested to appoint the Licensing Panel for the ensuing year.

In 2020/21, each Licensing Panel 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 Director of Law and Governance submitted a report in respect of the appointment of Members to the Licensing Panel (Licensing Act).

It was reported that the Terms of Reference of the Licensing Act Committee as contained in the Council’s Constitution (approved by Council on 25 May 2022), required this Committee to act as the administrative committee, acting under statutory delegation pursuant to the Licensing Act 2003, and to be responsible for making decisions as a licensing authority under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005.

It was further reported that the Terms of Reference also allowed for the convening of Sub-Committees (Licensing Panels – Licensing Act) of three members of the Licensing Act Committee, with responsibility for the Council’s functions to deal with applications, determinations and reviews of licences, permissions and any related matter in respect of the Licensing Act 2003 or the Gambling Act 2005 within statutory timescales.

On a motion by Councillor Mike Collins and seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell it was –

Resolved –

(1)  That the Terms of Reference of the Licensing Panel (Licensing Act) as referred to in paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the report be noted and that each Licensing Panel be comprised of three Members drawn from the fifteen Members of the Licensing Act Committee with the Chair appointed on the day of each meeting.

(2)  That the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons to convene Licensing Panels (Licensing Act) as and when required in order to meet any statutory timescales for the purposes of carrying out the Council’s functions to deal with applications, determinations and reviews of licences permissions and any related matter in respect of the Licensing Act 2003 or the Gambling Act 2005.  Up to two further Members of the Licensing Act Committee may also attend the Licensing Panel as observers.

(3)  That the term of membership of the Licensing Act Committee be continued until such time as a new Licensing Act Committee is appointed.