Dundee Licensing Forum - 23/03/2010

At a MEETING of the DUNDEE LICENSING FORUM held at Dundee on 23rd March, 2010.

APPENDIX I

Present:-

Dundee Licensing Forum

Dundee Licensing Board

Colin RATTRAY, Convener, in the Chair.

I APOLOGIES

Apologies were intimated from Councillors Guild, Fordyce and Andy Dawson, Vered Hopkins, Kirsty Licence, Hamish Tait and Moira Ogilvy.

II MEMBERSHIP

It was reported that requests for membership of the Forum had been received from Ms Gillian Ferguson, Adult Services Manager, Tayside Council on Alcohol, Mr Scott Clarke of Braes and Mr Des Jones of Liquid Nightclub.

It was agreed that these parties be asked to submit an application letter outlining the way in which they felt they could contribute to the work of the Forum.

III APPOINTMENT OF CONVENER

It was unanimously agreed to re-appoint Colin Rattray as Convener of the Forum for a further year.

IV MINUTE OF MEETING OF 1ST DECEMBER, 2009

The minute of the above meeting was submitted and approved.

V BEST BAR NONE - UPDATE

Morag Beattie gave an update on the Best Bar None scheme advising that the Awards Ceremony on 26th September, 2009 had been very successful, and that the 2010 launch would take place on 4th May. She also advised that social clubs would be involved in the scheme for the first time.

VI LOCAL LICENSING FORUMS WEBSITE

It was reported that the new Local Licensing Forums' website was now up and running:

(www.local-licensing-forums.org.uk).

The website had information for the general public as well as for Local Licensing Forum members on common licensing issues, and included an online discussion forum that was exclusively for Local Licensing Forum members. It included examples of good practice, resources and news items from local forums and members were encouraged to visit the site and contribute to its contents.

VII FOCUS ON ALCOHOL PROJECT

It was reported that the Dundee Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) was looking to develop a Focus on Alcohol Project in Dundee (which would be similar but not exactly the same as the project in Angus). To start the process, it was proposed to bring together a group of individuals to help develop a detailed proposal, and the ADP had invited the Licensing Forum to provide a representative on that group.

Colin Rattray and Chris Sloan intimated their interest in being involved in this.

VIII COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

John Hosie, Community Regeneration Manager, Leisure and Communities Department, Dundee City Council, gave a presentation to the Forum about ways of involving the community.

He outlined the Community Planning Framework which was based on eight areas, all with a Local Community Plan for 2008/2011. All these plans had identified alcohol misuse as an issue and the need for a multi-agency approach. All areas had a community engagement action plan and six out of eight areas also had regeneration forums involving the local community.

The Forum was encouraged to make use of the existing structures to engage with the community. However, it was agreed that it was essential to be clear on what the consultation was about and which groups it was seeking to engage with. Leisure and Communities were happy to assist the Forum in linking into these community networks.

Particular reference was made to the difficulty in targeting certain groups, for example, young people. The Community Planning Partnership was fully committed to involving them, but not necessarily directly as members of groups.

IX REVIEW OF THE DUNDEE LICENSING BOARD POLICY

It was reported that the Dundee Licensing Board Policy was due for renewal by the end of 2010. Within this context, the Licensing Forum would be one of the statutory 'consultees'. To ensure the Licensing Forum was well placed to respond to this consultation, the following actions were proposed.

7                                             The current Dundee Licensing Board Policy should be reviewed against guidance from the national body, Alcohol Focus Scotland. The review should also take account of the Health Impact Assessment of Glasgow City Council's Licensing Policy due in June.

7                                             Initial findings of the review of the Dundee Licensing Board Policy would be produced and circulated for comment. The final recommendations would be submitted to the Licensing Forum later in the year.

7                                             Community involvement processes should be developed over the summer allowing community views around alcohol to be formally gathered later in the year. This would ensure that the Licensing Forum incorporated community views in its response to the new Licensing Board Policy.

The undernoted timescales were agreed:-

Licensing Forum Meetings

8th June, 2010

Initial findings from review of Dundee Licensing Board Policy presented by Kirsty Licence and Carole Robertson for discussion and comment.

Feedback from John Hosie on development of the local community engagement process to gather community views on alcohol.

7th September, 2010

Final recommendations regarding the Licensing Board Policy for discussion and agreement.

Community engagement events confirmed and arrangements in place for alcohol discussions.

7th December, 2010

Joint Meeting with Licensing Board

Formal response to Licensing Board Policy, incorporating community views, discussed with Licensing Board members at joint meeting.

X MINIMUM PRICING OF ALCOHOL

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Forum of 1st December, 2009, there was submitted a letter sent by the Secretary to a number of MSPs, asking on behalf of the Forum, for their support for proposals to adopt minimum pricing for alcohol in the Scottish Government's forthcoming Alcohol Bill.

The Forum expressed their disappointment with the responses received. Mention was also made of an EU Directive ruling that minimum pricing of cigarettes was uncompetitive and the possible effect this could have on proposals for minimum pricing of alcohol.

XI ACCEPTANCE OF YOUNG SCOT/PASS CARDS

There was submitted a copy letter from COSLA to Licensing Boards advising that the PASS Card had been approved in regulations under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 as acceptable evidence of age, and encouraging acceptance of the cards amongst licensees.

Licensees advised that they were happy at the standard of the cards and were happy to accept these cards.

XII EVENING TELEGRAPH ARTICLE - STUDENTS UNDER FIRE OVER BUBBLES NIGHT

Reference was made to an article which had appeared in the Evening Telegraph on 17th December, 2009, and a copy of a letter from the President of DUSA was submitted and noted.

There followed considerable discussion about how best to share intelligence about the drug scene in Dundee.

Reference was made to the role of DUNCAN in circulating such information. Liz Kay also demonstrated an analytical tool which was produced on a regular basis by the Community Safety Team, and contained a considerable amount of detailed information about crimes in various areas.

It was agreed that Liz Kay and Morag Beattie would consider how best to progress this matter, both through the Community Planning Process and the DUNCAN project

XIII A O C B

Reference was made to Licensing Forum training which had recently been attended by a number of members who advised that many other Forums did not appear to be receiving the same level of support from their local Licensing Board as the Dundee Forum.

Forum members expressed their appreciation to the Licensing Board for their ongoing support.

XIV DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, 8th June at 2pm.

Colin RATTRAY, Convener.