Agenda item

Minute of Meeting of the Local Licensing Forum of 26 January 2016 to be approved (copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 26 January 2016.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Convener.

3.1       Matters arising from the Minute

With reference to paragraph 3.3 (b) of the Minute, Ms Walker had ascertained that, due to changes resulting from the Air Weapons Act, Licensing Board Policy Statements would be reviewed every 5 years and that the next Licensing Board Policy Statement would be due in November 2018 rather than November 2017 as had been expected.  However an interim policy statement could be produced if the Licensing Board so wished.  Members of the Forum noted that there were changes in the Alcohol Profile which could be reflected in a Supplementary Policy Statement if this was considered the best way forward.  It was agreed that the Licensing Board be asked to consider whether it wished to review the whole Policy prior to the election in May 2017 or whether a Supplementary Statement should be produced.  In the meantime it was agreed that the Forum’s short-life working group set up to review the Policy Statement,  of N. Gillies, M. Hay, I. Tunnah, S. Walker, M. Wynne should meet to identify the areas of change evidenced by the Alcohol Profile so that the Board could be alerted to these. It was agreed that the first meeting would be held on Monday 25 April 2016 at 1.30pm at the Queen’s Head, Kelso.

DECISION

AGREED that:-

(a)        the Convener would ask the Scottish Borders Licensing Board to consider whether it wished to review the Policy prior to May 2017 or whether it wished to produce a Supplementary Policy Statement in the meantime to reflect the changes in the Alcohol Profile; and

(b)       the short-life working group meet to identify the areas of change evidenced by the Alcohol Profile in order to bring these to the attention of the Licensing Board and to bring back a paper to the Forum.

3.2       With reference to paragraph 3.6 of the Minute there was a discussion about the need to raise public awareness of what the ‘Best Bar None’ plaque stood for.  Some Members of the Forum also felt that the Licensing Board did not give this Trade Award sufficient recognition when considering license applications.  It was agreed that the Convener should speak to PC Nick Walker with a view to taking a presentation to the Licensing Board in order to update the Board on the Best Bar None launch.

DECISION

AGREED that the Convener would liaise with PC Nick Walker with a view to updating the Licensing Board on the launch of Best Bar None.

3.3       With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute, Ms Walker advised that she would follow up with PC Robertson the request for circulation of the Chief Constable’s Annual Report.

DECISION

NOTED

3.4       With regard to paragraph 5 of the Minute, the Democratic Services Officer advised that, as confirmed with the Convener, a presentation on licensing issues would be added to the agenda for all the Area Forum meetings during the August/September cycle of meetings.  It was agreed that the dates of the meetings at which the presentation would be given would be circulated to Community Councils. 

DECISION

AGREED that the Democratic Services team circulate to Community Councils the dates of the Area Fora meetings at which the presentation on Licensing issues would be given.

3.5       With reference to paragraph 12 of the Minute regarding Bar Code training the Convener read out an email received from Stephanie Bell, in her absence.  Ms Bell had ascertained that the National Licensed Trade Association was in the process of looking at offering a training provision in Scotland that was similar to the training offered in England and Wales and which would comply with Scottish legislation.  Currently the organisation was working with programme designers and had not been able to give a definite timescale.  Ms Bell had asked to be kept informed of developments and would update the Forum when information had been received.

DECISION

NOTED