The Chair welcomed members and read out the webcast information. However the webcast was not working and therefore the meeting was recorded to be available online at a later date.

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 item on the agenda and state the nature of their interest.

Councillor Paula Basnett declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Premises Licence Holder under the Licensing Act 2003.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Act Committee held on 25^th July 2024.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Licensing Act Committee held on 25 July 2024 be approved as a correct record subject to an amendment to the resolution in item 6 as follows:-

“That the draft revised Statement of Gambling Policy to be applied under the Gambling Act 2005 attached at Appendix 1 to this report be approved in order that it may be circulated for consultation.”

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the Licensing Act Sub Committee meeting(s) held on:-

19/05/2023

14/06/2023

21/06/2023

07/07/2023

25/08/2023

20/09/2023

21/09/2023

08/11/2023

14/12/2023

18/12/2023

15/04/2024

04/06/2024

27/09/2024

Resolved - That the accuracy of the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Act Sub Committee held on 19/05/2023, 14/06/2023, 21/06/2023, 07/07/2023, 25/08/2023, 20/09/2023, 21/09/2023, 08/11/2023, 14/12/2023, 18/12/2023, 15/04/2024, 04/06/2024, 27/09/2024 be approved.

There were no public or member questions.  No statements or petitions had been received.

The Licensing Manager explained that the purpose of the report was for the Committee to consider whether they should recommend to Council the approval of the draft Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003 which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee were also asked to determine whether the Licensing Authority remained of the view that there was evidence that the number of premises selling alcohol for consumption off the premises in the specified area of Birkenhead identified within the current draft Statement of Licensing Policy, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, was continuing to have a cumulative impact and leading to problems which were undermining the licensing objectives. The Committee were asked to consider whether they should recommend to Council that there should continue to be a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) applied to the area of Birkenhead currently referenced in the draft Statement of Licensing Policy.

A report had been submitted by Merseyside Police providing their evidence to support the retention of the CIA contained within the draft Statement of Licensing Policy. An Officer from Merseyside Police attended the meeting and presented the report. The Officer responded to questions from Members of the Committee.

Resolved –

1. That the draft Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003 attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be recommended for approval by Council on 2 December 2024.

2. That the Committee recommended to Council that there should continue to be a Cumulative Impact Assessment applied to the area of Birkenhead currently referenced in the draft Statement of Licensing Policy attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Licensing Manager summarised the report and explained that the purpose of the report was for the Committee to recommend to Council the approval of the draft Statement of Gambling Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Resolved – That the draft Statement of Gambling Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 attached at Appendix 1 to the report,be recommended for approval by Council on 2 December 2024.