Issue - meetings

Consideration was given by the Joint Group to a note on a draft advert / flyer to be circulated at various location in order to extend the scope of the Forum’s membership and noted that this detail will be included in a report by the Chair to be brought back to the Forum’s next meeting.

Discussion focused on how inquorate meetings are uneconomical and that after May’s local elections and in advance of the Licensing Policy Statement review,  a view should be sort on reducing membership to a few core members of no more than 10.

Roanna Clark updated the Joint Group on the current focus on issues facing young people tending to focus on the education of legal highs and internet safety, rather than alcohol, although Young Scot would welcome the opportunity of taking part in a pilot scheme whereby young people could be invited into licensed premises for an educational visit.

It was highlighted to the Joint Group that Wendy Brown, Education Officer for Helensburgh and Lomond, has been visiting schools showing a presentation on helping to educate children about alcohol which has been well received

Other possible methods of attracting new members and increasing the function of the Forum that were discussed included that the Licensing Board can request input from the Forum to help inform Licensing decisions; the possibility of a Member of the Licensing Board also to sit on the Forum as a Member and that a draft workplan to facilitate forward planning for the Forum may be of benefit.

Decision

The Joint Group agreed to:

i)              request that the Education Officer for Helensburgh and Lomond circulate her presentation to Members of the Joint Group;

ii)             support Young Scot in working in conjunction with license holders to pilot an educational visit to licensed premises and report back to a future meeting of the Local Licensing Forum; and

iii)            to feedback any comments and suggestions on attracting new Members to the Chair via Susan Mair.