Agenda and minutes

The Convener welcomed Caroline Smith and Laura Meek of the Oban Youth Forum to their first meeting of the Local Licensing Forum.

Apologies for absence were submitted from Eric Dearie, David Greenwell, Calum MacLachlainn, Brian Kupris, Catherine Dobbie and Fred Bruce.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Local Licensing Forum held on 13 July 2010 were approved as a correct record.

The Convener provided an update from the Meeting held on 8 October 2010 and advised that the main focus of the meeting was the review of the Policy Statement and within it the assessment of Overprovision. The views of the Forum were presented to the Licensing Board which for the most part were incorporated into the Policy Statement. It was noted that the Policy Statement was out to public consultation at the moment. Cath advised that the Public Health Agenda did not appear anywhere in the Policy Statement.

Decision

Agreed that Cath provide some contextual words regarding Health and Alcohol to be inserted into the covering page of the Policy Statement which would be submitted to the Licensing Board for their consideration.

The Minute of a meeting of an invited group of Conveners held recently at the Alcohol Focus Scotland office in Glasgow was circulated to the Forum and noted. The Convener advised that two issues had arisen from the meeting which he would like the Forum to consider.

• Conveners were asked to consider the benefits of regional or national meetings of Forums and how these could be best implemented.
• Suggestion that Alcohol Focus Scotland could add an item to the agenda of each Local Licensing Forum with responses to be reported back to Alcohol Focus.

Decision

1. Agreed that the Convener set up a preliminary meeting with other Forums with a view to having some consistency of the roles of Forum.

2. Agreed to add an item on the agenda for future Meetings – Alcohol Focus Scotland with responses being reported back to AFS.

(Ref: Minute of Local Licensing Forum Conveners Meeting of 14 July 2010, submitted)

It was agreed to continue this item to the next meeting of the Forum as Russell Buchanan who attended the National Licensing Conference had not attended the meeting today.

Charles reported that after advertisement, 4 applications had been received from interested parties to sit on the Local Licensing Forum. A report will be submitted to the Council for consideration in due course.

Decision

1. The Convener and Charles to discuss the applications at the conclusion of the Forum meeting.

2. Agreed that both Young Persons be invited to attend future meetings of the Forum.

Inspector Neil Wallace spoke to the report stating that the trend was quieter than normal during July for the summary of STORM statistics. The number of visits to licensed premises in the Helensburgh area from July to September was also reported to the Forum.

Decision

It was noted that the number of visits to licensed premises for the other areas would be reported to the next meeting.

(Ref: Report by Strathclyde Police, submitted)

The Licensing Standards Officer had submitted his apology for absence to the meeting but tabled a report advising of the issues he had been involved with since the last meeting.  These included training, attendance at seminar, licence processing, attendance at Licensing Board, formal inspections and mediation. Charles advised the Forum that he had met recently with Eric Dearie and Alan Morrison with regard to the recruitment of LSO’s where it had been agreed to wait until the Service Reviews had been completed before appointing permanent LSO’s.

Decision

Agreed that Charles take forward the possibility of taking on a short term contractor to assist the work of the LSO.

(Ref: Report by the LSO, tabled)

Charles provided an update on some of the items on the Issue Tracker including:-

• Discussion with Licensing Board with regard to fees – no room for manoeuvre at the moment.
• Duty to Trade – now resolved.
• Offsales Licences for sale of Gifts – no change.
• Policing of Licensed Clubs – Neil had made section inspectors aware of the concerns of the Forum.
• Recruitment of Young Persons Representative – Roanna had recruited Caroline Smith and Laura Meek of Oban Youth Forum.