Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillors S Chaudhury, I Markham and PM Varnsverry.

The minutes of the meeting of 19 January 2010 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED

That the persons referred to in the private part of the agenda be granted leave to address the Committee.

There were none.

The Chair reminded members of two forthcoming Sub-Committee hearings.  Councillors Caswell, Duncan and Reeve agreed to sit on the Committee on Wednesday 10 March.  Councillors I Choudary, C Lill and PM Varnsverry agreed to sit on the Committee on Tuesday 23 March.

Report of the Director of Environment and Culture.

The Licensing Officer presented the report to the Committee.  He explained that new legislation would require that premises currently allowing entertainment of a sexual nature (e.g. lap dancing, strip tease and pole dancing) were going to have to apply for a licence as a sex establishment and be on an equal footing with sex shops.  Local authorities could decide on the number of such establishments within a given area and, in Northampton, this currently stood at four.  The identified area was bounded by and including the Wellingborough Road, Kettering Road and Abington Avenue.

The Committee would need to revisit their current policy and decide on the number of licences they wished to allow and, if the number of applications exceeded this, they would have to determine the allocation of such licences.  The closing date for applications was October 2010.  Following the grant of these licences, it would be down to a sub-committee to hear applications for variations or reviews, as currently was the case under the Licensing Act.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

The Chair to Move:

“that the public and press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there is likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12a to such act.”

The Chair moved that the Public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12A to such Act.

The Motion was Carried.

Report of the Borough Solicitor

The driver confirmed that he had received the relevant paperwork and the Licensing Officer outlined the circumstances of the conviction as set out in the report.

The Committee heard the representations made and reached a decision with regard to any further action to be taken based on the evidence presented.

RESOLVED

(1)    That the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

(2)    That the Driver’s Private Hire Licence be suspended for a period of four weeks following a period of 21 days after his receipt of notification from the Licensing Authority during which time he had the right of appeal to Magistrates.

Report of the Borough Solicitor

The driver confirmed that he had received the relevant paperwork and the Licensing Officer outlined the circumstances of the application as set out in the report and the reasons that the Committee was being asked to consider the application.

The Committee heard the representations made and reached a decision with regard to the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

RESOLVED

(1)    That the driver was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence

(2)    That the application be granted.

Report of the Borough Solicitor

The driver confirmed that he had received the relevant paperwork and the Licensing Officer outlined the circumstances of the conviction as set out in the report.

The Committee heard the representations made and reached a decision with regard to any further action to be taken based on the evidence presented.

RESOLVED

(1)    That the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

(2)    That the Driver’s Private Hire Licence be suspended for a period of six weeks following a period of 21 days after his receipt of notification from the Licensing Authority during which time he had the right of appeal to Magistrates.