Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no Substitute Members.

There were no urgent items.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no questions from Local Residents.

There were no questions from Members to the Chairman.

The Community and Strategic Partnerships Manager introduced the report and stated that animal welfare was protected by the Community Protection team. It was explained that the team monitored animal welfare at various businesses regularly and that the Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 had improved the standards of animal welfare licensing activities since its implementation.

In response to questions from the committee, the Community and Strategic Partnerships Manager stated that the Community Protection team was responsible for taking action against poor animal standards in the borough and had good relations with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Kent Police. It was further stated that the Community Protection team was not responsible for dog fouling, and that this was covered by public space protection orders.

The Committee felt that the report was comprehensive and chose to note the report as per the recommendation

RESOLVED: That the update on Animal Welfare Licensing responsibilities is noted.

Note: Councillor Fort arrived during the course of the item at 6.39 p.m.

The Head of Licensing Partnership introduced the report and outlined the partnership, the summary of its work and the challenges encountered over the last municipal year.

In response to questions, the Head of Licensing Partnership explained the use of saturation zones and that the only partnered authority that implemented saturation zones was the London Borough of Bexley. It was clarified that they were only necessary in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour from people who have engaged with licensed premises and that a significant level of evidence was required to implement a zone.

The Committee thanked the officers for their work on the Licensing Partnership.

RESOLVED: That:

1.  That the performance of the Licensing Partnership within the report be noted;

2.  The Head of the Licensing Partnership continue to provide an annual update on the Licensing Partnership activity to the Licensing Committee each municipal year.

The Head of Housing and Regulatory Services introduced the report and outlined the need for Committee Members to agree to its training programme.

In response to questions, the Head of Housing and Regulatory Services confirmed that the Local Government Association Licensing Conference was separate from the mandatory licensing training and that it would be offered to Members if training monies were available.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The content of the training as set out in Paragraph 2.4 of the report be agreed; and

2.  All new Members of the Licensing Committee and those wanting to be substitutes should complete the training by 31^st July 2024.

6.30 p.m. to 7.20 p.m.