Dundee Licensing Forum - 02/09/2014
At a MEETING of the DUNDEE LICENSING FORUM held at Dundee on 2nd September, 2014.
Present:-
Ms Lynne HAMILTON, NHS Tayside
Mr Sandy KINGSTON, DUSA
Ms Laura KERR, Dundee City Council, Social Work
Mr David GLASS, Licence Holder
Mr Douglas WINTON, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
Mr Paul KING, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
Mr Dominic ANDERSON, Licence Holder
Mr Jonathan STEWART, Licence Holder
Ms Morag BEATTIE, DUNCAN Project
Ms Yvonne TOSH, Community Representative
Mr Garvie JAMIESON, Community Representative
Dr Lucy DENVIR, NHS
Mr Craig SOMERS (Substitute for Graeme PETRIE, LSO)
Mr Blair FINLAY, Public Health Improvement Officer, DCC
Councillor David BOWES, Dundee Licensing Board
In attendance
John McDONALD, Dundee City Council, Legal
Vered HOPKINS, in the Chair.
I APOLOGIES
Apologies were intimated from Vered Hopkins, Simon Goulding, Graeme Petrie, Bryan Coleman and Melissa Gorman.
II APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR
It was reported that Pete Harvey had resigned as a Convener of the Forum. Thereafter, the Forum unanimously elected Jonathan Stewart as Convener, whereupon he thanked members and took the Chair.
III MINUTE OF MEETING OF DUNDEE LICENSING FORUM OF 3RD JUNE, 2014
The minute of meeting of 3rd June, 2014 was submitted and approved.
IV MATTERS ARISING SAFETY BUS UPDATE
On a reference to Article V of the minute, it was reported that a meeting was to take place the following week at which it was hoped that some progress would be made.
The vehicle had been off road because of the inability to secure sustainable funding.
V MEMBERSHIP OF FORUM
Blair Findlay updated the Forum on efforts to bring more licence holders on to the Forum. The Convener advised that he would also write to them encouraging more participation.
VI TRAINING
Blair Findlay advised that Alcohol Focus Scotland had intimated that they would be happy to come to Dundee to carry out training. He would first canvas members to see what type of training would be most useful.
VII S.T.A.R. UPDATE
It was reported that all assessments had been carried out and feedback on the new format had been very positive. Particular thanks were extended to Morag Beattie and the representatives of Scottish Fire & Rescue who had visited the premises.
VIII OVERPROVISION ASSESSMENT
Reference was made to the policy adopted by the Licensing Board at its meeting on 21st August, 2014 on the overprovision of licensed premises in the city. The decision had been that there was overprovision of both on and off sales premises in the Board's area, with the exception of the Central Waterfront Development Area.
The effect of the policy was to create a rebuttable presumption against the grant of any new premises licences (or increases in capacity of existing licences) and the onus would be on any applicant for a licence (or variation) in the overprovision area to convince the Board why the policy should not apply to their application.
The Board would review the operation of the policy in August, 2015.
The Forum, on the whole, welcomed the policy, particularly from a public health perspective. The introduction of a clear policy would enable the Board to better refute any possible legal challenge and members of the Forum would be happy to provide any assistance they could to help the Board implement it.
This could include:-
- provision of information (public health/crime)
- audit of applications over the next year
- updating of overprovision data in order to assess effect of policy.
IX MEMBERSHIP
It was reported that Paul King would replace Douglas Winton as the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service representative. Members thanked Mr Winton for his contribution to the Forum and wished him all the best for the future.
X DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, 2nd December, 2014.