Agenda and minutes

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

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

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

Further to the re-establishment of this Committee by Council at its Extraordinary meeting on 27 May 2010, the Committee is asked to appoint a Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

RESOLVED:  To note the appointment of Councillor Ajay Maru as Vice?Chairman at the Special meeting of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee on 27 May 2010.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee;

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2010 and the special meeting on 27 May 2010, 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 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put, or petitions or deputations received at this meeting.

Report of the Corporate Director Community and Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment that outlined the draft revised Licensing Policy for Harrow Council as the Licensing Authority and the responses to the consultation exercise in respect of it.  An officer reported that:

·                     the licensing policy was a guide for submitting a licensing application and had been amended to capture legislative changes;

·                     the consultation process had taken place between 15 March and 21 May 2010.  The draft policy had also been distributed to responsible authorities, existing premises licence holders and known local residents associations for comments.  Officers had received two responses, one of which related planning issues. In response, officers had advised that planning matters did not form part of the licensing policy;

In response to questions raised by Members, officers advised that:

·                     licensing applications were considered and granted in accordance with the four licensing objectives, whereas, planning decisions were considered in accordance with planning legislation.  Both applications were independent of each other, however, licensing applicants were advised to resolve any planning issues in order to operate according to their premises licence;

·                     applicants seeking planning permission could apply for a provisional licence and approach planning once the application was granted.  Comments from licensing were invited when a planning application was made.  Any changes made to a licensed premises may require planning consent and/or building regulations approval.  Any new renovation work would require need to provide disabled access in accordance with current building regulations;

·                     officers response to comments received following the consultation process would be included in the report submitted to full Council on 8 July 2010;

·                     the licensing policy was reactive to other policies or initiatives that were implemented or exercised by the Council;

·                     if an isolated offence had been committed, officers would normally issue a written warning to a licensee advising them to discontinue any unauthorised activity.  A simple caution was a formal legal sanction that was issued where licences were persistently breached.  A record of this would remain on file for 3 years;

RESOLVED to Recommend:  (to Council)

That the draft licensing policy be referred to full Council for approval.

RESOLVED:  That the responses received following the consultation be noted.

Report of the Director Legal and Governance Services

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Legal and Governance that set out the proposed appointment of a non-voting co-optee to the Pension Fund Investments Panel for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:  That Mr Howard Bluston be appointed as a non-voting co-optee to the Pension Fund Investment Panel for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

Report of the Director Legal and Governance Services

The Committee received a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services that set out the action taken under the Urgent Non-Executive Decision procedure as set out in part 3 of the Council’s constitution.

The report outlined that the decision had been taken in order to allow certain Panels to meet during the transitional period between the date of the elections and the date of the Annual Council meeting.  This was a particular requirements where committee business was subject to statutory timescales and regulations.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.