Licensing Committee - 16/08/2012

At a MEETING of the LICENSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th August, 2012.

Present:-

Lord Provost Bob DUNCAN

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th July, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II DEPUTATIONS

It was reported that deputations relative to Article III - USE OF CITY SQUARE AND PUBLIC PROCESSION had been received from the following organisations and individuals:-

(a) The Communist Party of Britain (Raymond Mennie)

(b) Fire Brigade Union (Jim Malone)

(c) Unite the Union (Stuart Fairweather)

(d) The Staff Side Area Partnership Forum of NHS Tayside (Alan Manley)

(e) Dundee University (UCU) (Carlo Morelli)

The Committee heard the deputations listed above apart from the Staff Side Area Partnership Forum of NHS Tayside who were not present.

III CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982

(a) USE OF CITY SQUARE AND PUBLIC PROCESSION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN138-2012 advising of undernoted application for use of City Square and Public Procession.

It was reported that application had been received from the Secretary, Dundee TUC, on behalf of Dundee Together (Against Racism and Fascism) to hold an event in City Square from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm on Saturday, 1st September, 2012 entitled 'Dundee Together' which it was acknowledged in the application was on the day the Scottish Defence League had planned to use the Square.

The event included plans for a music stage, children's art workshops and community stalls.

It was reported that application was also made to hold a short march on the day, leaving City Square at 12 noon, marching up Reform Street, doing a complete circuit of Albert Square and back down Reform Street. They anticipated that about 100 people would be participating. No vehicles would be taking part and Dundee TUC's usual stewarding guidelines would be in place, although more detailed discussions with Tayside Police on issues like this were traditionally held nearer the time. The organisation also planned to lay a floral tribute at the memorial to the International Brigade at the south west corner of Albert Square as part of this event, which may have entailed the march standing in tribute for approximately one minute.

This event was described as "a broad based, cross community event, loosely titled 'Dundee Together'. It was intended by the organisation that this event would bring together and highlight elements of the City's diversity and unity in a celebration of Dundee and its people, bridging across issues of gender, ethnicity, sexual identity and culture."

The organisation also wished access to mains electricity at the old gazebo location.

There was submitted a letter of information from the Chief Constable relevant to this application. The Committee gave consideration to the content of the letter. Thereafter, having heard the representative of the Chief Constable and having heard the deputations and consideration of letters of support which had been received relevant to this application and consideration of the advice of the Legal Officer, the Committee agreed:-

(i) that the application be granted as applied for;

(ii) that the march proceed as indicated; and

(iii) to note that Dundee Together (Against Racism and Fascism) was supported by:-

Dundee Trades Union Council, Dundee City Unison, Unite Against Fascism (Scotland), Yusuf Youth Initiative, Tayside Fire Brigades' Union, Youth Fight for Jobs, University of Abertay Students' Association, University and College Union (Dundee University), Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network, Communist Party of Britain, Free University of Scotland.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.