Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest made.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 17^th December 2020 as an accurate record of the proceedings.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 17^th December 2020 were agreed as a correct record of proceedings.

Mr Tom Lewis, Team Leader, Licensing, introduced the report and explained that the Council must review its Cumulative Impact Assessment Policies every 3 years. As part of the review the Council must carry out statutory consultation in the same way as specified for reviewing the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

It was noted that the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Area had been in place for 7 years and the Bethnal Green Cumulative Impact Area for 2 years. It was noted that the consultation process commenced on 28^th January 2021 and would end on 22^nd April 2021. The options in the consultation were to;

·       Retain both CIAs (Cumulative Impact Assessments)

·       Retain the CIA for Brick Lane and remove the CIA for Bethnal Green

·       Remove both CIAs

It was noted that the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) was reviewed and updated to make the policy clearer and easier to understand. The policy made it clear that any application made within the CIA area would need for the applicant to demonstrate in the application why the granting of their application would not negatively add to the cumulative already experienced within the CIA zones. The policy clarified that the CIA areas did not create a stop of granting licences within the zones, but was very clear that where valid representations were received the onus was solely on the applicant to adequately rebut the presumption.

Mr Lewis then referred Members to the appendices to the report and highlighted the complaints received by the Licensing Team for each ward and the hotspot areas in the CIA zones. It was confirmed that Spitalfields and Banglatown ward and Weavers ward, which were the main wards that the Brick Lane CIA falls within, remains consistently one of the highest wards for complaints received by the Licensing Team. This was also the same for the Bethnal Green CIA area.

In response to questions the following was noted;

-       There had been 60-70 responses received as part of the consultation so far.

-       That all contested applications would still continue to come before the Licensing Sub Committee for consideration.

-       That only one appeal had been lost in the CIA area over the past three years.

-       That the onus was on the applicant to demonstrate how they would not negatively impact on the CIA area, by providing a more detailed application.

-       That pavement licences were separate to a premises licence, which would be assessed individually and the Noise Team assess and visit the area before a decision is made.

-       There was no way to temporary remove the CIA areas to help businesses during this economic climate.

-       That approximately 10-15 shadow licences have been applied for by landlords when premises have closed down during the pandemic in order to retain premises licence.

The Committee AGREED that the report to Council include information on the number of businesses that had closed due to the pandemic in comparison to the numbers that have opened since the pandemic, particularly in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.1

Mr Ladi Lapita, Principal Enforcement Lawyer, introduced the regular noting report which detailed licensing related prosecutions and appeals for Quarters 4 for 2019-2020 and Quarters 1 to 3 for 2020/2021.

The number of prosecutions over the quarters was noted and it was also noted that during Quarters 1-3 for 2020/21 no proceedings were concluded due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members welcomed the report. 

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

The Chair extended his thanks to officers and members of the Licensing Committee for their contributions and support over the last municipal year.