Issue - meetings

Consider report by Service Director Regulatory Services.  (Copy attached.)

With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of 20 December 2018, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Regulatory Services providing an update on the responses to the consultation on Alcohol in Public Places and to determine the next steps.  The report explained that following agreement by the Council to conduct a full consultation on whether an alcohol byelaw should be introduced in the Scottish Borders it was decided that a two stage consultation would be commenced. The initial stage establishing two matters:

·                Whether the consumption of alcohol in public places was a problem that required to be addressed?

·                Would preventing alcohol being consumed in public help meet the licensing objectives?

Depending on the results of that Stage 1 consultation a second stage consultation might then be carried out to consider options in more detail. The results from Stage 1 were set out in Appendix 1 to the report.  Whilst the responses to Stage 1 indicated a wide variety of views on the matter, there was considerable support particularly from key stakeholders to progress to Stage 2.   Members discussed the proposals in detail and were divided in their views as to whether the Council should progress to stage 2 of the process.

VOTE

Councillor Greenwell, seconded by Councillor A. Anderson, moved that the recommendations (a) and (b) (ii) in the report by approved with the addition of Eyemouth and Peebles to the towns where pilots would be carried out.

Councillor Jardine, seconded by Councillor S. Hamilton, moved as an amendment that no further action be taken.

Councillor Haslam moved that the vote be taken by Roll Call and this was unanimously approved.

The Motion was carried by 19 votes to 13.

DECISION

DECIDED to:-

(a)     instruct officers to proceed to Stage 2; and

(b)     that the Stage 2 consultation should consider the introduction of a pilot Alcohol Byelaw for specific towns only, being Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick and Peebles.  The period after which the pilot should be reviewed would also form part of the Stage 2 consultation.