Agenda and draft minutes

Democratic Services Officer, welcomed Members and advised that:

·       The position of Chair had become vacant as a result of Cllr Pearce becoming a Cabinet Member

·       Cllr Eddy proposed Cllr Langley as Chair, seconded by Cllr Massey

On being put to the vote

Resolved: (9 for, 0 against) that Cllr Langley be elected Chair of the Licensing Committee

·       Note that Cllr Abraham and Cllr Jama arrived at the conclusion of the vote

Cllr Langley Chaired the meeting from this point.

·       Cllr Whittle on Maternity Leave

·       No other apologies received

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Please note that the Register of Interests is available at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/councillors/members-interests-gifts-and-hospitality-register

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

None

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on 1 February 2019.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on 6 February 2019.

The statements received as Public Forum item was circulated to members and will be kept as a matter of public record.

Nick Carter, Regulatory Services Manager, presented the report outlining the steps to be taken to move towards a wider consultation, recommending that Committee:

·        Approve the draft policy for public consultation

·        That the consultation on the draft policy runs from 1^st March 2019 to 31^st May 2019

·        That authority is delegated to Officers to amend the draft policy following the consultation

·        And for that amended policy to come back to Committee for final approval

The following was noted from the discussion:

a.      Members shared their concerns about the information included in the report.  They took the view that the report should reflect the evidence based work that had taken place.  Extensive preliminary work had taken place and those being consulted should be made aware of that fact.  All agreed it was not member’s intention to influence the outcome of the consultation but share the work in a way that provided reassurance that those commissioned with responsibility for this area of policy had taken the role seriously.

b.      Members requested officers consider revising the language used to report the outcomes of the surveys detailed in the consultation document.  That the information is laid out in a way that aided understanding and followed logical feedback narrative.

c.      Officers explained that the report was written to ensure that those receiving the report would not conclude that the final policy had been pre-determined during the preliminary stages of the review. 

d.      Members acknowledged that this should be avoided and a way must be found to ensure that the reports narrative remained objective but shared the information that the working group ‘heard’ without intimating the views of the groups.

e.      Members sought clarity on the extent of the proposed consultation.  Officers advised that the consultation would be wide covering all partner agencies including the NHS.

f.       Members agreed that the report should be withdrawn and revisions made to include the matters considered by the working group.

g.      On being taken to the vote it was:

Resolved (unanimously) that the decision on the report be deferred; that officers revise the report to include the information shared with the working group; consult with the working group before the report is returned to committee for final decision.

Nick Carter, Regulatory Services Manager, presented the report that recommended the creation of an Officer & Member working group to engage and shape the policy.

a)     Members had no questions of clarification

b)     Members proposed the following members sit on the working group

·       Cllr Eddy

·       Cllr Clough

·       Cllr Massey

·       Cllr Langley

·       Cllr Combley

On being put to the vote:

Resolved: (unanimously) that the recommended activities outlined in the report are agreed; that the members listed above participate in the working group.

The meeting concluded at 10:30