Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

Councillor Gray indicated he was a member of a gambling establishment and asked if he needed to declare an interest.

In response, the committee’s legal advisor explained that Councillor Gray did not have a disclosable pecuniary interest and was entitled to remain in the room to participate.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Committee.  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. 

https://democracy.chorley.gov.uk/documents/s67429/Appendix%203%20Standing%20Orders%20Aug%2016.pdf

There were no public questions.

Councillor Margaret France indicated that her apologies from the previous meeting had not been included on the minutes. The Democratic Services Officer apologised and agreed to amend the minutes before signing by the Chair.

Subject to the amendment of the minutes it was,

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting are approved as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

The minutes of the General Licensing Sub-Committee held on 21 September will be presented to the next meeting.

This item was for information.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting are approved as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting are approved as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Report of the Director of Planning and Development attached.

The committee considered a report of the Director (Planning and Development) that following invitation, members of the trade have submitted expressions of interest in being allocated a hackney carriage vehicle licence.

The committee were requested to carry out a tombola to select those invited to make a formal application for a hackney carriage vehicle licence.

The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) explained the procedure to be followed and the Chair placed seven sealed envelopes, each containing an application, into the tombola. The draw was then carried out by the Vice-Chair and names were picked out in the following order:

1.    Habij Miah

2.    Siraj Jiva

3.    Muhammad Ali

4.    Yaseer Siddique

5.    Muhammad Farooq

6.    Khurram Hammad

7.    Ali Bahri

The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) explained that the first name drawn would be given the opportunity to apply for the grant of a hackney carriage vehicle licence. If, on the expiry of two months from the draw, the first applicant had not applied and had a vehicle test, the second name drawn shall be invited to make an application.

If the second name drawn did not apply, then the third would be invited to submit an application. If the third failed to apply, the matter would be brought back before the Committee to determine next actions.

Resolved (Unanimously)

1.    The committee note the information contained within the report and undertake the tombola.

2.    All expressions of interest were drawn from the tombola o provide an audit trail showing all valid expressions were entered into the draw.

3.    The committee note and confirm that being drawn from the tombola does not give a guaranteed right to a licence and that the usual criteria grant for a licence shall apply.

Report of the Director of Planning and Development attached.

The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) presented a report of the Director of Planning and Development that sought approval to consult on the revision of the Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005.

The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) explained the changes were largely to update some of the information which has become out of date and to improve and clarify any issues in the existing documents. There are no major legislative changes which had been included in the revision. Members noted the summary of changes included at appendix 2.

Resolved (Unanimously)

1.    That the committee approves the approach to consultation as set out in the report.

2.    That authority is delegated to the Director (Planning and Development) in consultation with the Chair of the committee, to make such changes to the Principles as are appropriate in response to consultation responses.

3.    That the Committee recommends to Council that the Principles (subject to any revisions by the Director in consultation with the Chair) be approved, published and implemented four weeks after its publication.

The Chair explained that Elizabeth Walsh (Senior Solicitor) would be leaving the authority in January for pastures new.

The committee thanked Elizabeth for all the support given to members of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee and wished her well in her new role.