Issue - meetings

This report informs the Executive of the consultation exercise carried out in respect of the draft licensing policy agreed by the Licensing Act 2003 Committee on 7^th July 2006, and asks them to recommend the revised policy to Council for approval.

Members considered a report which informed them of the consultation carried out in respect of the draft licensing policy agreed by the Licensing Act 2003 Committee on 7 July 2006, and asked that the revised policy be recommended to full Council for approval. 

Under the Gambling Act 2005, the Council was required to consult on and publish its statement of policy before 3 January 2007.  The policy would come into effect on 31 January 2007.  Consultation had been carried out over a period of 12 weeks, finishing on 6 October 2006, and had resulting in 38 responses, details of which were attached as Annex 2 to the report.  The draft policy, revised to take account of minor clarification issues raised during consultation, was attached as Annex 1.

Attention was drawn to specific issues on which decisions were required for insertion in the draft policy.  These included whether or not to adopt a “no casino” policy for York, whether or not to adopt a statement on permits for unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres and/or permits for prize gaming, and whether or not to adopt more prescriptive definitions of “interested parties” and location of premises. 

Officers confirmed that the draft policy at Annex 1 also incorporated the amendments suggested by the Licensing Act Committee at their meeting on 3 November 2006.