Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL.

Contact: Jessica Feeney, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 98 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 28 January 2016.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 28 January 2016 were approved as a correct record.

 

2.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

3.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

4.

Review of the Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the report to members explaining that the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) required all local authorities to produce a statement of the principles, which they propose to apply when exercising their functions under the Act. Members were enlightened that the Act also required that any statement was kept under review and must be re-published at least every three years. The current Statement of Principals was due for review. The report sought the views of Members of the Licensing Committee on the proposals before the revised documents went out for public consultation.

Councillor Churchman questioned if it was a legal requirement for staff in gambling premises to have training on how to intervene with customers gambling in an excessive manor. The Principal Licensing Officer explained that this was not a legal requirement although each gambling premises was required to carry out risk assessments and adhere to the Gambling Act 2005 licensing objectives.

 

Members requested that the local area profile maps were circulated to Licensing Committee members.

 

Councillor Maney questioned why the ethnic profile of residents in the area was expected to be carried out as a risk assessment. The Principal Licensing Officer informed members that this was added as a risk assessment due to a study commissioned by Westminster Council in the preparation of their Local Area Profile, which concluded that certain ethnic minorities were more frequent gamblers than other minorities.

 

Councillor Collins enquired if the Council would monitor money laundering in relation to the premises. Members were enlightened this was currently monitored by authorities such as the police and trading standards, and not a primary role of the licensing team, however if noted they would liaise with the relevant authorities.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Licensing Committee considered the draft reviewed Gambling Act Statement of Principles as in Appendix A, and agreed for public consultation.

 

5.

CSE Awareness Training for Hackney Carriage Private Hire Drivers pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

Members were informed that the report sought to make attendance of Thurrock Council’s Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Training, a pre application requirement, which would require all licensed drivers to have undertaken the training before they renew their licence or before any new drivers were granted with a licence.

Councillor Collins questioned how the Council could monitor the knowledge taxi drivers gained from the Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Training. The Principal Licensing Officer explained that monitoring this would be very difficult although we could monitor who has attended the training, members were informed that all taxi drivers were required to wear their photographic identification badge so checks could easily be made. Members were also informed that the Licensing department and the Police regularly carried out taxi enforcement sessions during the day and night.

Councillor Snell asked for clarification regarding the E-Learning course. The Principal Licensing Officer explained that Officers were looking to turn the spoken training course into an online training course with questions. Councillor Snell requested that the questions were asked throughout the training course to ensure that the trainees understood.

Councillor Jones queried how long it would be before all taxi drivers had completed the training course. The Principal Licensing Officer explained almost all taxi drivers would have completed the course within the next year, it was added that those who had not attended would be sent a letter. Members were informed that those who may refuse to undertake the training would be unable to renew their licence unless given a valid reason which would need to be agreed to by the Licensing Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Licensing Committee agreed recommend to Council the inclusion of the completion of Thurrock Councils CSE Awareness training as part of its pre application requirements.

6.

Applications Received pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the report to Members explaining that the report contained details of applications received under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005.

 

It was explained to members that some of the applications were for temporary events undertaken within the borough which held less than 500 people.

 

Members were referred to Appendix A that provided details of all applications received for any new/variation/minor variation for a premises licence or club premises certificate of a temporary event notice; or any type of gambling premises licence for the above period.

 

Members were updated on the outcome of a recent appeal to the magistrates court regarding a recent Taxi Driver application.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the contents of the Report be noted.