Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed the attendees to the meeting of the Licensing Committee and took the opportunity to congratulate the Director for Public Health, Protection and Community Services on her new role.

County Borough Councillor S. Bradwick echoed the Chair’s comments and took the opportunity to extend his thanks to the Licensing Department for their recent enforcement work in his local community, despite current pressures.

The Member also wished to place on record his thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the owners of the Conway Inn, Aberdare, who had tragically passed away after contracting Covid-19.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest; and

2.     Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must  notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To note, that when Members determine the licensing and registration matters before them, they have a duty not to act in a manner that is incompatible with the convention on Human Rights and the Crime and Disorder Act.

It was RESOLVED to note that when Members determine the licensing and registration matters before them, they have a duty not to act in a manner that is incompatible with the convention on Human Rights and the Crime and Disorder Act.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the  Licensing Committee (Sitting in its role under the Licensing Act 2003) held on the 12^th October 2020.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 12^th October 2020 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

The Director, Public Health, Protection and Community Services provided the Committee with the report on relevant issues with regard to the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005, together with ancillary matters arising from the responsibilities charged to the Committee.

Prior to her presentation, the Director informed the Committee of an error within the report and stated that the information was up to 17^th January 2021, not the 2^nd February 2021 as detailed within the report.

It was reported that there had been a decrease in number of Temporary Events Notices (TEN’s), with only 18 being submitted. This could be attributed to the exceptional time for the trade as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘firebreak’ lockdown and full lockdown in Wales during the period. The Director also noted that the number of transfers and changes of DPS was considerable, which again, was likely due to the uncertain nature of the pub/club trade as a result of the pandemic.

The Director reported that since the last Committee report, there were two contested applications, one of which was an Application for Variation of a Premises Licence; and the other was for a Variation of Designated Premises Supervisor.

It was also reported that there had been two reviews, requested by South Wales Police, during the period. The first review was for the Legion, Porth, whereby the Sub-Committee determined to suspend the Licence for a period of two weeks and amend its conditions; and the second was for Treorchy Hotel, Treorchy, whereby the Sub-Committee determined to amend the conditions of the Licence. Furthermore, the Director informed the Committee that there were two further pending reviews scheduled for February 2021, which would be reported back to a future Committee.

The Director referred Members to section 4.3 of the report, where the premises inspections and infringements were outlined. Members learned that the current performance level remained at 90.5% as there had been minimal inspections carried out during the period, due to officers focussing on Covid-19 inspections.

The Director went on to describe the situation for the Trade during the Covid-19 pandemic, explaining that the hospitality sector had been impacted considerably by the imposition of stringent restrictions, followed by the complete lockdown. The Director informed the Committee that officers had continued to tirelessly conduct Covid compliance visits and was pleased to note that premises within RCT had been broadly compliant.

The Director noted that there had been 359 recorded visits during the period, not including telephone calls and those that South Wales Police had undertaken, but felt that this was an underestimate. Members were advised that there had been premises that had failed to adhere to the standards, which had resulted in 18 closures notices and 12 improvement notices issued during the period. Members were disappointed to note that, overall, 74 improvement notices had been issued in RCT, which was the highest number in Wales but acknowledged that the Licensing Team had been pro-active, despite staffing pressured and challenges.

In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

“That the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Act”.

It was RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

(i)  Personal Licences                                                                                                                                              

(ii) Premises Licences             

The Director, Public Health, Protection and Community Services provided the Committee with details of licences and registrations issued during the period 28^th September 2020 to 17^th January 2021.

Following discussions, it was RESOLVED to note the content of the report.