Agenda and minutes

1.1       In the absence of any nominations, Ian Tunnah volunteered to take the position of Convener to the Local Licensing Forum.

DECISION

AGREED to appoint Ian Tunnah as Convener to the Local Licensing Forum.

1.2       WELCOME

Linda Bowie, Co-ordinator for Alcohol Focus Scotland, was welcomed to the meeting.

1.3       RESIGNATION

An email from Elaine Whitehead was read to members in which Elaine explained that due to work commitments and the difficulty of attending meetings in working hours, she had decided to step down from the Forum.  This was reluctantly accepted and the Convener was asked to write a letter of thanks to Elaine.  There followed a discussion about how to recruit more members to the Forum.

DECISION

NOTED

Minute of the meeting of the Local Licensing Forum of 27 January 2015 to be approved. (Copy attached)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 27 January 2015.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Convener.  

With reference to paragraph 2 (c) of the Minute, the notes from a recent Police Scotland licensing seminar were now available.  These would be scanned and circulated to members of the Forum.

DECISION

NOTED that the notes from the seminar on Licensing Law would be circulated.

Susan Walker to report.   (Copy attached).

4.1       There had been circulated the results of a Scottish Borders Local Licensing Forum Survey which had been produced by ADP Development Officer and Forum member, Susan Walker.  The Forum had agreed at the meeting on 27 January 2015  to carry out a self-assessment questionnaire to help identify any development needs.  Each member of the Forum was asked to complete the survey online to help identify how they felt the Forum was currently performing and where more information and support would enable the Forum to function better.  A total of 8 responses were received which was a 50% response rate and the majority were from those who had been members for over 2 years. The report collated the responses and was being presented to the Forum to enable members to reflect on these and to identify areas for improvement and action.  With regard to communication with members of the community, respondents were unclear about whether members of the community were aware of the Forum and its role.  Comments from the community were not actively sought although respondents highlighted various previous attempts to do this via website, articles in local media, local conference and community council attendance.  The majority of respondents felt that the Forum was effective in communicating with the Licensing Board, the joint meeting between the Licensing Board and Forum being highlighted as a helpful process to inform each other of work undertaken in the previous year. With regard to training needs the majority of respondents felt they had sufficient knowledge, understanding and experience of current licensing law and alcohol issues in Scotland.  However on being asked to indicate the specific topics about which training would be of most benefit they identified the following: the Impact of Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005; developing a statement of licensing policy; how licensing decisions should be made; alcohol and public disorder; alcohol and social harm; and strategies to reduce alcohol harm.  Face to face training with inputs from different speakers was the favoured method of delivery.  However online training and shadowing was also acceptable to some respondents.    In conclusion a list of 32 improvement suggestions had been produced as a summary of the results of the survey and this list was circulated at the meeting.

4.2       Members of the Forum recognised the value of the survey although there was some disappointment that the response was only 50 %. The positives which were evident in the responses to the self-assessment were referred to. With regard to engagement with the community, Inspector Scott suggested requesting a question in the next  Scottish Borders  Council Household Survey about the sale and control of alcohol. There followed a discussion about the next steps and how best to take forward the results of the survey in terms of further development of the Forum.  The most favoured suggestion was to have a day-time training session from 10 am – 3 pm and there was discussion in particular about what members wanted to achieve and how to engage with the Licensing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Susan Walker to report.

http://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/campaigns/controlling-availability.aspx

Ms Walker referred to research carried out by Glasgow University and to the link given at item 8 on the agenda, to the Alcohol Focus Scotland campaign to control the availability of alcohol. The campaign noted that in Scotland the greater availability of alcohol through more and bigger capacity licensed outlets, longer licensing hours and increased affordability and marketing, had been associated with a substantial rise in alcohol consumption and harm.    The campaign looked at the operation of Scotland’s licensing system and how it could more effectively regulate the availability of alcohol to reduce high levels of alcohol-related harm. Ms Bowie added that a representative from Alcohol Scotland could attend a future meeting of the Forum to speak about the key messages of the campaign if requested.

DECISION

NOTED

In his report to the Forum, Inspector Scott advised that in recent months there had been a further escalation of theft by shoplifting of alcohol.  There had been two incidents of serious assault in premises in Galashiels, one in January and one in February.  On both occasions the victims suffered injuries requiring significant medical intervention.  A test purchase operation had taken place in February when 13 off sale premises were tested. All premises were subsequently issued letters informing them that they had successfully passed the test. Inspector Scott reported that Police continued to be consulted on all license applications and where they considered these fell outwith the Licensing Board Policy or did not promote the Licensing Objectives, an objection would be submitted.  With the approach of the Rugby 7’s season and local festivals, work would be carried out by Police Scotland as part of the Responsible Drinking Campaign. Training had been organised through ADTAC to provide temporary staff with training on the law relating to the sale or supply of alcohol and in particular in relation to service of drunk people. Also the “Who Are You “presentation which the Forum had viewed last year would form part of this.

DECISION

NOTED the report

Mr Tunnah explained that work had been carried out to target the larger events in the Borders, including rugby clubs and outside caterers, in respect of information relating to the management and service of alcohol. This would include discussions about occasional licences and associated mandatory conditions. The campaign “Who Are You “ would be taken to Jedburgh Rugby Club on 1 April.  The larger Common Riding organisations would be targeted later in the Spring.  Organisations were being encouraged to use ‘due diligence’ as the only effective defence to charges of selling to underage parties.

DECISION

NOTED the report

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Convener was of the opinion that the item dealt with in the following paragraph should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to keep Members informed.

            AIR WEAPONS AND LICENSING (SCOTLAND) BILL

Ms Walker explained that on 23 March 2015 the Local Government and Regeneration Committee of the Scottish Parliament had published its Stage 1 Report on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.  Among other issues the Bill looked at strengthening the licensing regime for Scotland.  It was explained that the Stage 1 debate must take place on or before 24 April 2015.  If the bill was passed at Stage 1 it would move on to Stage 2 consideration (the amendment stage).  Mrs Isles agreed to circulate a link to the full report.

DECISION

AGREED that a link to the Stage 1 report for the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill be circulated for information to members of the Forum.

Tuesday 9 June 2015 at 4.00 p.m.

The next scheduled meeting was Tuesday 9 June.  However it was noted that this may be changed, depending on the date of the planned training day.  Before closing the meeting the Convener thanked Ms Bowie for her attendance and contribution to the meeting.

DECISION

NOTEDthat the date of the next meeting would be confirmed in due course.