Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated by Superintendent Raymond Park, Strathclyde Police; Catherine Dobbie, Education Support Officer; David Greenwell, ADAT; Calum MacLachlainn, Licensed Trade; Fred Bruce, Community Representative; Kenneth Harrison, Community Representative; Susan Mair, Head of Legal and Protective Services.

None.

Local Licensing Forum 3 July 2008

The Minutes of the Local Licensing Forum of 3 July 2008 were approved as a correct record.  

Following the Joint Licensing Board (LB) and Local Licensing Forum (LLF) meeting on 28 August a press release was submitted to local newspapers in Argyll and Bute to highlight partnership working and raise awareness of the LB and LLF.  The article included a photograph of the meeting, a contact telephone number, email address for information and an explanation of the roles of the groups.   

Decision

1.                  Eric Box and Verona MacDonald agreed to draft an article, similar to that in the Helensburgh Advertiser, and bring this back to the next meeting prior to it being circulated to Community Councils.  Agreed that the article should contain local contact phone numbers for information to encourage communities to make representations to the LLF, prior to recommendations being made to the LB.

2.                  Agreed that LLF representatives attend their local Community Council meeting to establish an effective link.  If however, this proves too time consuming, a speaker could be invited to a larger Community Council meeting and invitations extended to surrounding Community Councils. 

3.                  Agreed that a representative from each Community Council be invited to attend a LLF meeting.  It is recommended that an item be put on the agenda to provide representatives with an opportunity to pose questions to the LLF. 

4.                  Agreed that a notice or poster be put into local Post Offices to raise awareness of the issues the LLF aims to address.  An article could also be inserted into any free magazine which local communities produce assuming no costs are incurred.  Agreed any article compiled could be circulated by the LLF representatives. 

5.                  Agreed that the information available on the Council website is not sufficient and Verona MacDonald and Judy Galbraith to examine possible ways for improvement.

Liaison Group

It was agreed at the Joint Licensing Board and Local Licensing Forum meeting of 28 August 2008 that a Liaison Group be established to foster good relations.  The Liaison Group is to consist of three representatives from each of the Board and the Forum. 

Decision

Agreed that the three members should each represent one of the disciplines within the Forum and nominations were made accordingly; Eric Box (community representative), J Russell Buchanan (ex-licensee) Louise Ballantyne (local training provider).  Verona MacDonald agreed to report this information to the Licensing Board and ask for confirmation of their three representatives to ensure a Liaison Group meeting can be organised.

Policy Document

The Licensing Board have not met since 28 August when controversial issues regarding the Policy Document were raised.  This will be an item on their next agenda. 

Decision

1.                  Early morning off-sales - Agreed to make recommendation to the Licensing Board that all licensed premises be subject to the same constraints, whilst allowing the Licensing Board to use their discretion regarding individual application. 

2.                  Under 21 Identification - Agreed to make recommendation to the Licensing Board that the Policy Document incorporate a policy stipulating that all people under 21 years of age be required to provide identification.

Update by Chair (verbal)

The Local Licensing Forum considered a report which provided an overview of the National Licensing Conference 2008.  John MacFarlane, the National Licensing Officer for Alcohol Focus Scotland attended the Conference and stressed the importance of Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs) being in place.  Charles Reppke confirmed that Argyll & Bute Council has funding available to employ the LSOs, however the posts are currently with the Job Evaluation Team for assessment.  Discussion ensued regarding the lack of information available regarding the role of LSOs.  The meeting agreed the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the National Licensing Officer, should be assisting local authorities by providing such guidance. 

Eric Box mentioned a meeting he had with Susan Mair and Raymond Park to discuss the issues of how Local Licensing Forums are supposed to achieve their objectives once the new legislation is enforced.  Verona MacDonald highlighted the positive feedback that Argyll and Bute’s Local Licensing Forum had received from John MacFarlane at the Conference, stating that it was well established and operated and was composed of representatives from different sectors, ensuring widespread representation and a balanced view. 

Eric Box thanked Verona MacDonald for providing both information and clarification on some elements of his report.   

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the report.

(Ref: Report by Eric Box, Community Representative, dated 10 September 2008, tabled)

Update by Chair and Head of Legal and Protective Services (verbal)

The importance of collating statistics was highlighted to ensure that once the new legislation is enforced the recorded statistical data will indicate if the new legislation is reducing the problems being faced by communities. 

Decision

1.                  Agreed that Susan Mair and Raymond Park will provide provisional statistical information at the next meeting. 

2.                  Agreed Cath Cakebread will endeavour to provide statistical data at future meetings, although gathering statistics specifically for Argyll and Bute could prove difficult.   

3.                  Agreed there is a requirement for impact statistics from Health and Young Scot to be provided. 

Report by Education Support Officer

The Local Licensing Forum considered a report on the Choose Life Conference held at Stonefield Castle Hotel.  Choose Life is the Scottish Government’s strategy to reduce suicide in Scotland by 20% by 2013.  This conference was held on World Suicide Prevention Day and was attended by a wide variety of professionals for the health, education, social work, police and voluntary sectors.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the report.

(Ref: Report by Education Support Officers, dated 10 September 2008, submitted)

The issue of recruitment was discussed as there are currently two community representative vacancies which are required to be filled, along with a vacancy for Argyll and Bute’s Alcohol and Drug Addiction Team Officer. 

Decision

1.                  Agreed to place an advertisement in the Inveraray and Helensburgh areas to recruit two community representatives to attend the LLF.

2.                  Agreed that once Argyll and Bute Council has recruited an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Team Officer, this person will be invited to attend the LLF.

Verona MacDonald intimated that the Licensing Board would like to request the assistance of the LLF in connection with several issues.  These include establishing if there is a requirement for a ‘Plastic Glass’ Policy to be instated and examine licensed premises to discover if a ‘Noise’ Policy is required

Decision

1.                  Agreed to establish whether a ‘plastic glass’ Policy would be beneficial if incorporated into the Policy Document.  Agreed to look into this issue at the February 2009 meeting.  Agreed Strathclyde Police will provide statistics for assaults and injuries caused by glasses and bottles over a period of a year.

2.                  Agreed to establish whether a Policy should be introduced stipulating required standards of equipment mandatory for premises playing music.  Agreed Strathclyde Police will provide (separately if possible) statistics on musical noise, smokers’ noise and closing time noise.  Agreed to contact Sandy MacTaggart to request the attendance of, and a report from, an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) in connection with professional standards applied to noise and nuisance complaints in licensed premises.  The LLF agreed to wait until the statistics and report have been received before deciding whether they will make recommendation to the LB.  Agreed that if a recommendation is made it should specify that if an assessment highlights that noise levels are within the permitted limits, that does not necessarily mean it is not a nuisance, as this can vary depending on factors such as age.

3.                  Agreed to make recommendation to the LB that the Young Scot project be incorporated into the Policy Document.  Agreed that Roanna Taylor provide a report to the LB in connection with the Policy Document stipulating that all people under 21 years of age be required to provide identification, which should include the Young Scot card. 

Some concerns were raised regarding the infrequency of meetings and the lack of attendance.

Decision

1.                  Agreed date of next meeting as Thursday 11 December 2008.

2.                  Agreed to organise meeting dates for 2009, as follows:

• Thursday 12 February
• Thursday 9 April
• Thursday 11 June
• Thursday 13 August
• Thursday 8 October