Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

To receive declarations of interest (if any) from Members of the Committee arising from business to be transacted at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present with the exception of the following item for the reasons set out below:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no public questions, petitions or deputations submitted to this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rules 18, 15 and 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Borough Solicitor and Electoral Registration Officer.

The Committee received a report detailing a consultation being undertaken on the cycle of local Government elections.  The consultation paper had been issued by the Electoral Commission (EC) which had been asked to carry out the review, in the hope of identifying options for change and simplifying the current process.

The consultation paper sought views on 8 key questions. As the matter was one affecting the democratic process in Harrow, it was thought important to obtain the Council's response to the consultation paper.  The EC hopes to have collated and published the responses and any recommendations to the Government by January 2004.

The consultation paper referred to the lack of participation by voters in elections combined with widespread public confusion and lack of knowledge about when local elections are held.

In addition, the EC had recently published a further consultation paper dealing with the minimum age to vote and candidacy on which Members' views were invited.

The Committee was also asked to note that the EC was recommending Government to adopt all-postal voting for future local elections

A Member queried the current expenditure in Harrow for the hire of venues, polling booths, staff etc and how the funds were allocated for particular elections. Responding, the officer did not have any figures for costs incurred for the hire of venues and staff. However, he explained that funding varied depending on the particular election, for example local election funding came from the Borough, whereas Parliamentary elections were funded by the Government. A Member felt that an informed decision on future elections could not be made without a cost analysis involved, as it would be difficult to assess where and how to keep costs to a minimum. The officer advised the Committee that this was one reason for considering postal voting which, it was anticipated, would significantly reduce overheads.

Some Members felt that postal votes would increase public participation, whereas some felt that together with electronic voting there was a higher risk of fraud. Suggestions were made to create a system whereby a scanned signature could be used to identify the voter. It was also put to the Committee that pressure from the head of the house, particularly amongst  certain ethnic communities would be placed on the younger family members to vote a particular way, whereas, in a polling booth that person could exercise their right to vote, without being so influenced, thereby, resulting in the political composition of authorities more accurately reflecting the current make up of local areas. Some Members felt that another area of concern was in relation to those who were unable to read or write so as to  complete a form. One Member felt that postal voting was a knee-jerk reaction to falling turnout in recent times and that some more thoughtful consideration needed to be taken into account once the EC had collated all the responses.

In addition, the EC believed that it was time to review the minimum age of voting and candidacy, particularly due to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Report of the Environmental Health Officer.

Your Committee received a report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer updating the current position on the Licensing Act 2003 and the stages in the implementation. The report listed operative dates for the new duties and also considered the approach to the Licensing Policy.

The officer informed the Committee that the Licensing Act brought together a unified system for alcohol, entertainments and night cafes. Only minor changes had been made to the original Licensing Bill published by Government in November 2002. 

The officer went on to outline some of the significant implications of the Act.  All premises with licensable activities (such as the supply of alcohol, late night refreshments and public entertainments) would require a premises licence, or for clubs, a club registration certificate.  There were exemptions for activities associated with religious worship, school activities and morris dancing.  Additionally those persons selling alcohol would have to hold a personal licence.  A system of temporary event notices would enable smaller events to take place with a minimum of regulatory requirements.  The initial step for the Council as licensing authority is to produce and consult on a Licensing Policy.  The Policy establishes the basis for the Council’s approach to deciding on licence applications. 

It was also explained that the Licensing Act will transfer to the Council the responsibility for the issue of gaming machine permits for pub, clubs and similar licensed premises.  This is a result of the Government’s abolition of the Licensing Justices in February 2005. Local Authorities will have to establish new systems for processing applications for licences, club registrations and temporary events notices etc. 

He went on to explain that a new procedure for the notification of freeholders of changes to the Licensing Register was going to be introduced. In return for an annual fee, which was yet to be determined, the Local Authority had to ensure that those registered their interests would be notified.

The Environmental Health Manager outlined the stages of implementing the Act and advised Members that the timescales were subject to change. However, he estimated that with a commencement order due about May 2004, applications would start to arrive for club registration certificates, personal and premises licences. Members were informed that the Licensing Act was due to come into effect in February 2005.

He informed Members of the requirement for the Council to produce and publish a Licensing Policy. The Policy, which would last for a period of three years, had to be completed and approved prior to the commencement of the applications in about May 2004. Attached to the report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer was a draft consultation Licensing Policy paper for Members’ comments, which once it had been through all the stages referred to in the timetable, would formally require Council approval prior to next May.

Consultation on the Licensing Policy was a requirement for the new Act, and included agencies such as the Police, fire authority and premises and personal licensees. Others to be consulted were business representatives, Harrow’s Chamber  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Report of the Head of Housing and Environmental Health Services.

Further to an application by an individual employee to be granted in the excess of the minimum statutory paid leave entitlement in the circumstances of adopting a group of three children, it was

RESOLVED; That the Committee grant, for the purposes of adoption, in this instance, six weeks special leave at full pay to incorporate statutory entitlements.

(The statutory entitlement is one week full pay and one week statutory paternity pay which is currently £100 per week).

In accordance with the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4B of the Constitution) it was

RESOLVED: At (1) 10.00pm to continue until 10.05pm

(2) 10.05pm to continue until 10.10pm

(3) 10.10pm to continue until 10.15pm

(4) 10.15pm to continue until 10.20pm

(5) 10.20pm to continue until 10.25pm