Dundee Licensing Forum - 04/12/2012
At a MEETING of the DUNDEE LICENSING FORUM held at Dundee on 4th December, 2012.
Present:-
Mr Chris SLOAN
Mr Bryan COLEMAN
Ms Kirsty LICENCE
Ms Vered HOPKINS
Mr John PEARSON/Mr Peter HARVEY
Mr Jonathan STEWART
Mr Douglas WINTON
Ms Morag BEATTIE
Mr Simon GOULDING
Dundee Licensing Board
Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS
Councillor David BOWES
In attendance
Kenny McKAIG, Legal Manager, Dundee City Council
Carole ROBERTSON, Health Improvement Officer, Dundee City Council.
Apologies were intimated from Councillor Brian Gordon, Yvonne Tosh, Garvie Jamieson, Graeme Petrie, Katrina Finnon, Paul Ballard and Paul Snaith.
Chris SLOAN, Convener, in the Chair.
I OVERPROVISION
There was submitted a Report by the Dundee City Alcohol License Provision Analysis Group, updating the recommendations of the report in the light of discussions at the Licensing Forum of 4th September 2012.
The Forum noted the undernoted revised recommendations:-
(i) There is sufficient evidence of alcohol related harm at a population level across Dundee for the whole of the City to be considered as overprovided in terms of alcohol premises licences. This should be made clear within the overprovision statement to be incorporated into the Dundee City Licensing Policy.
(ii) Off-sales represent the most significant and growing source of alcohol availability, in terms of geographical access, pricing and volumes of sales. In addition, alcohol bought for consumption off the premises poses particular risks because it is unsupervised, preferred by under-age drinkers, and is associated with consumption of larger absolute amounts of alcohol in comparison with on-sales consumption. The group therefore recommends that the overprovision statement should allow the Board to decline any licence application or variation that would have the effect of increasing off-sales capacity across the City.
(iii) For on-sales applications or variations, the Licensing Board should review, with the intention of reducing, its approval of applications for licensed hours extensions, and occasional licences.
(iv) The Licensing Board should take steps to ensure that future licence applications provide sufficient and accurate information on actual alcohol sales and capacity in terms that will support more detailed overprovision assessment. The Board may need to consider if it needs to be able to receive such commercial information in confidence. The Board may also have to consider if further changes in the guidance or legislation around licensing are required to achieve this, and work with its officers to progress this nationally.
The Forum also supported the process of local community engagement and agreed to work together with the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership to undertake this process and report back to the Licensing Board.
It was further noted that the Licensing Board was required to incorporate an overprovision statement into its licensing policy by December 2013 and that the community consultation be planned and undertaken over the next 4 months. Following that, the Alcohol Licence Provision Analysis Group would draft a proposed overprovision statement for presentation to the Licensing Board, via the Dundee Licensing Forum.
II MINUTE OF MEETING OF DUNDEE LICENSING FORUM OF 4TH SEPTEMBER 2012
The minute of the above meeting was submitted and approved.
III MATTERS ARISING
Proposed New Mandatory Conditions for Premises
The Chairman made reference to an Article recently published in the Scottish Licensed Trade News criticising the Dundee Forum's recommendation to the Licensing Board regarding the introduction of a number of mandatory conditions for premises relative to the conditions and standards of the licensed premises to which the licences relate.
The Forum expressed their disappointment at the viewpoint expressed and the Secretary undertook to circulate copies of the Article to all members.
IV A O C B
Sale of Alcohol to Under 18's
The problem of irresponsible retailers and parents providing alcohol to persons under the age of 18 was raised.
It was noted that this was a national problem; however efforts were being made by local agencies to tackle this problem, eg
- Focus on Alcohol "Stop and Think" Campaign
- Test Purchasing
- Police "Operation Dry-Up" every weekend
- Bottlemarking Scheme
- Sanctions from the Licensing Board
V PROPOSED DATES FOR 2013
Tuesday, 5th February, 2013 (subsequently changed to 5th March 2013)
Tuesday, 4th June, 2013
Tuesday, 3rd September, 2013
Tuesday, 3rd December, 2013
All at 2.00pm in the City Chambers, Dundee.