Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, The Abbey House, Abingdon

Contact: Steve Culliford, Democratic Service Officer (01235) 540307 Email: steve.culliford@southandvale.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

LA3

Notification of substitutes and apologies for absence

To record the attendance of substitute members, if any, who have been authorised to attend in accordance with the provisions of standing order 17(1) with notification having been given to the proper officer before the start of the meeting and to receive apologies for absence. 

Minutes:

Councillors Eric Batts, Dudley Hoddinott, Gill Morgan, and Catherine Webber had sent their apologies for absence.  Councillor Robert Sharp attended as Councillor Eric Batts’ substitute. 

LA4

Minutes pdf icon PDF 43 KB

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the committee meeting held on 15 May 2013. 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: to adopt as a correct record the minutes of the committee meeting held on 15 May 2013 and agree that the chairman signs them. 

LA5

Declarations of interest

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

Minutes:

None

LA6

Urgent business and chairman's announcements

To receive notification of any matters, which the chairman determines, should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances, which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman. 

Minutes:

None

LA7

Statements, petitions and questions from the public relating to matters affecting the Licensing Acts Committee

Any statements, petitions and questions from the public under standing order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting. 

Minutes:

None

LA8

Gambling policy review pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider the head of legal and democratic services’ report. 

Minutes:

The committee considered the head of legal and democratic services’ report that reviewed the gambling policy.  The council had to review its policy every three years.  The officers had reviewed the policy in line with the latest guidance from the Gambling Commission and had consulted the public on a revised policy. 

 

The council received nine responses to the consultation, most being in favour or having a neutral view of the draft policy.  However, most respondents also supported the council retaining its ‘no casinos’ policy.  The policy adopted in 2010 included a ‘no casinos’ clause due to the rural nature of the Vale with country market towns being inappropriate locations for a casino.  The committee considered that the council should retain the ‘no casinos’ policy for the same reason; large towns or cities were more appropriate locations.  Having taken this view, the committee agreed new wording for paragraph 4.9.3 in the policy, and agreed that the ‘no casinos’ element should be reviewed within three years to bring it into line with the next policy review. 

 

The committee also supported the draft joint gambling policy but suggested an amendment to paragraph 4.10.5 to enforce the limits on the number of gaming machines in betting premises. 

 

RESOLVED: to

 

(a)               recommend Council to adopt a ‘no casino’ resolution under section 166 (1) of the Gambling Act 2005 and that paragraph 4.9.3 of the Joint Gambling Policy be amended to read:

‘Section 166 of the Act gives the council the power to pass a ‘no casino’ resolution, meaning that applications for a casino would not be considered.  The council has adopted a ‘no casino’ resolution on the basis that this rural district with country market towns is an inappropriate place for a casino, that casinos are better located in large towns or cities, and the council should also protect the most vulnerable people from gambling in casinos.  This resolution is required to be renewed within three years.’ 

 

(b)               recommend Cabinet to recommend Council to:

(i)                 adopt the proposed Joint Gambling Policy, subject to paragraph 4.10.5 being amended to read:

‘The councils may, in accordance with section 181 of the Act, enforce a limit on the number of betting machines…’ 

(ii)               authorise the head of legal and democratic services to make minor editorial changes to the Joint Gambling Policy; and

(iii)             authorise the head of legal and democratic services to publish the Joint Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement)(England and Wales) Regulations 2006. 

LA9

Chinese lanterns - motion referred from Council pdf icon PDF 132 KB

To consider the head of legal and democratic services’ report. 

 

At its meeting on 17 July 2013, Council considered the following motion from Councillor Robert Sharp, seconded by Councillor Melinda Tilley:

 

‘This Council requests the Licensing Acts Committee to consider restricting the use of Chinese lanterns as a condition for licensed events in the Vale.’

 

Council supported the motion but with the consent of the mover and seconder, accepted a proposal to include a request that officers also investigate prohibiting the use of Chinese lanterns on council owned land. 

 

Council’s resolution now reads: ‘that Council requests the Licensing Acts Committee to consider restricting the use of Chinese lanterns as a condition for licensed events in the Vale and requests officers to investigate the option of prohibiting the use of Chinese lanterns on council-owned land.’ 

Minutes:

The committee considered the head of legal and democratic services’ report. 

 

At its meeting on 17 July 2013, Council considered a motion from Councillor Robert Sharp, seconded by Councillor Melinda Tilley that ‘this Council requests the Licensing Acts Committee to consider restricting the use of Chinese lanterns as a condition for licensed events in the Vale’.  Council supported the motion but with the consent of the proposer and seconder, accepted a proposal to include a request that officers should also investigate prohibiting the use of Chinese lanterns on council-owned land. 

 

The committee considered the officer’s report setting out the background to this issue.  The Chief Fire Officers’ Association had called for an urgent national review on the use of floating paper lanterns.  The association had video evidence that such a lantern had landed on a property in the West Midlands and caused serious fire damage.  The association had called for councils to discourage the use of Chinese lanterns, also known as ‘sky lanterns’. 

 

The committee supported the motion approved by Council.  The committee agreed to change its statement of licensing policy to provide guidance on the release of Chinese lanterns at outdoor licensed events.  However, the committee noted that the council could not impose a blanket ban on the use of such lanterns but would have to consider applying the condition for new outdoor licensable events; the committee agreed a condition to use in such cases.  The council could not impose restrictions on the lanterns’ use where there were existing licences, but the officers would request event organisers to note the guidance and act responsibly when using Chinese lanterns.  The committee supported this approach.  

 

The committee also noted that the council’s strategic property team was reviewing the terms and conditions for users or hirers of council-owned property and would be inserting a clause prohibiting the release of Chinese lanterns. 

 

RESOLVED: to

 

(a)               request the head of legal and democratic services to incorporate changes to the Joint Statement of Licensing Policy to provide guidance on the release of sky (Chinese) lanterns at outdoor, licensed events; and

 

(b)               approve the addition of the following condition on sky lanterns to the licensing pool of conditions:

‘No sky lanterns shall be released from the licensed premises or associated land when licensable activities are being undertaken.’ 

Exempt information under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972

None

 

Contact us - Democratic services

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01235 422520
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Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon
OX14 3JE