THREE RIVERS DISTRICT COUNCIL

At a meeting of the Licensing Committee held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, on Wednesday, 25 March 2009 from 7.30pm to 7.45pm.

Present:Councillors Pam Hames (Chairman), Les Mead (Vice Chairman), Malcolm Butwick, Francis Durham, Paul Goggins, Barbara Lamb MBE, Ralph Sangster, Martin Trevett and Brian White.

Also in attendance:-Ted Massey-Chief Environmental Health Officer

Sarah Haythorpe-Principal Committee Manager

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Richard Laval and Joy Mann.

LC15/08MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 10 December 2008 were confirmed as a correct record.

LC16/08NOTICE OF OTHER BUSINESS

No items were submitted.

LC17/08DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

LC18/08LICENSING COSTS

The Chief Environmental Health Officer reported that David Gauke MP had written to the Council enclosing a copy of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)response on the cost of licensing following the implementation of the Licensing Act. The DCMS had advised that the Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel had made recommendations on future fee levels and identified a shortfall between local authority costs and income during the period of transition. The DCMS had advised that a response to these matters would need to be agreed across the Government. The Committee agreed that the Chief Environmental Health Officer should write to David Guake MP in six months time to pursue if a more detailed reply had been received from the DCMS.

RESOLVED:-

that the Chief Environmental Health Officer write to David Guake MP in six months time to pursue if a more detailed reply had been received from the DCMS.

LC19/08REVIEW OF LICENSING HEARING PROTOCOL

The Committee received a report to consider amendments to the Licensing Hearing Protocol in respect of new applications and variations under the Licensing Act 2003. In response to a question raised by a Member of the Committee on the site visit protocol, the Chief Environmental Health Officer agreed to add this protocol to the licensing hearing protocol.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the proposed amendments and the revised Hearing Protocol as described in Appendix 2 be approved subject to the inclusion of the site visit protocol;

(2)that the approved Protocol be made available on the Council’s website.

LC20/08LICENSING COMMITTEEWORK PROGRAMME

The Committee was requested to consider and make necessary changes to its work programme. The Committee agreed that the next meeting would be held following the Regulatory Services Committee meeting and that the meeting would be used to hold a mock licensing sub committee hearing.

RESOLVED:-

that the work programme be approved:

CHAIRMAN

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