To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 27 February 2014, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2014 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee is to receive a presentation.

The Committee received a presentation on the Licensing Strategy from the Public Protection, Licensing and Health and Safety Divisional Manager. This presentation provided an opportunity for the Committee to be informed on how the reshaped Licensing Strategy and the proposed consultation of the Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Committee was informed that the decision to develop a strategy originated from the Havering Night Time Economy costs and benefits report in 2010.

The Committee received a presentation on the Licensing Strategy and the development of the Havering Statement of Licensing Policy from the Public Protection, Licensing and Health and Safety Divisional Manager.

The Committee noted that following a borough wide consultation the current Licensing Strategy was adopted by Council on 26 March 2014.

The strategy aims to:

•         Reduce irresponsible alcohol sales and consumption in our town centres

•         Reduce alcohol-related crime in Romford

•         Promote responsible drinking and tackle binge drinking

•         Reduce availability of alcohol in the vicinity of schools during school hours

•         Reduce the level of drug use in licensed premises

•         Maintain thriving and viable daytime and night-time economies which create the right balance between business and residential communities

•         Comprehensive strategy to assist Licensing Sub-Committees’ decision-making

The Committee was informed that the Statement of Licensing Policy was a statement of how the Licensing Authority was going to consider licence applications in the Havering. The policy had to be renewed every five years. A new policy would need to be produced next year in order to be in place for January 2016.

The Licensing and Health and Safety Divisional Managerinformed the Committee that the policy needed to have regard to Section 182 Guidance that was issued by the Home Office. This guidance was a regularly updated document that advised changes in Legislation.

The Committee was informed that the new policy would need to drafted, published and circulated for consultation to all premises, stakeholders, Members and resident of the borough who would like to have some input in developing  the draft policy.

The following time frame for consulting on the new Statement of Licensing Policy was outlined:

•         Licensing Committee to agree draft policy for consultation May /June 2015

•         Consultation starts June 2015

•         Consultation  ends Aug 2015

•         Final  policy  to be agreed by Licensing Committee by Nov 2015

•         Final  policy needs to be agreed by Council by December 2015

The Committee noted that Members of the Towns & Communities Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee had selected four of its Members to form a joint working Topic Group with this Committee to develop the draft policy that would be circulated.

The Committee agreed that Councillors Linda Van den Hende, Philippa Crowder, Reg Whitney and John Wood join the Topic Group.

The Committee Noted the presentation.

The Committee is to receive a presentation.

The Committee received an update on recent changes to Legislation affecting Licensing:

The following Mandatory Conditions came in to operation as from the 2 October 2014 a new mandatory conditions came into force.

1.  Irresponsible promotions.

The responsible person must ensure that staff on relevant premises do not carry out, arrange or participate in any irresponsible promotion, such as listed below, where that promotion was carried on for the purpose of encouraging the sale of alcohol on the premises

•                  Drinking games

•                  Provision of alcohol free or for a fixed or discounted fee.

•                  Rewards for the consumption of alcohol

•                  Promotional posters

•                  Dispensing alcohol directly into the mouth.

2.     The responsible person must ensure that free potable (drinking) water was provided on request for customers where it was reasonably available.

3.     The premises licence holder must ensure that an age verification policy applied to the premises in relation to alcohol supply or sales. This must as a minimum require individuals who appear to the person serving alcohol to be under 18 years of age to produce on request (before being served alcohol) appropriate identification.

4.     The provision of small measures must ensure that the following drinks were available in the following measures:

•                  Beer or cider – half pint

•                  Gin, rum, vodka or whisky 25ml or 35ml

•                  Still wine in a glass 125 ml.

•                Responsible person must make customers aware of the availability of small measures.

5.     The ban on sale of alcohol below the cost of duty plus VAT. 

The Committee was informed that the following changes were in the pipe line:

•         Consultation on Community ancillary notices (CAN’s).

•         Deregulation of personal license expiry.

•         Deregulation of regulated entertainment.

•         Fees

The Committee Noted the presentation.