Agenda and minutes

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 7.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure.

Councillor Gabriel Batt was elected Vice-Chair.

Apologies were received from Councillors Tim Ball and Steve Hedges.

To receive any declarations from Members/Officers of personal/prejudicial interests in respect of matters for consideration at this meeting together with their statements on the nature of any such interests declared.

There were none.

There was no urgent business, but the Environmental and Licensing Manager invited Members to suggest any changes to the structure and remit of the Licensing Sub-Committees that could be recommended to the Council after the May election.

Members felt that it would be more appropriate to delegate responsibility for the consideration of applications for table and chairs permits to the Licensing (Gambling & Licensing) Sub-Committee rather than to the Licensing (Taxis, Street Trading and Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee.

The Environmental and Licensing Manager updated Members on progress with casino applications. He said that the period for representations had ended the previous day. The validity of representations received was being assessed. There was a two-stage application process. At stage 1 applications would be considered by the Licensing (Gambling and Licensing) Sub-Committee. Responding to a question from a Member, the Chair reminded the Committee that it had been agreed that Members who had voted against the principle of a casino in Bath would not sit on the Sub-Committee.

The Chair noted that this would be the last meeting of the Licensing Committee before the May election and thanked Members and officers for their support.

There were none.

These were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Environmental and Licensing Manager presented the report. He said that the Committee’s comments would be included in a report to the Cabinet Member for Service Delivery, who would take the decision on the proposed policy. The aim of the policy was to ensure that the highway could be used for its primary purpose of facilitating movement in the public realm. It was intended to provide guidance on the siting of items placed on the highway and to introduce a system of permits. It was expected that a permit would cost £100.

Councillor Lees asked whether it was intended to apply the policy throughout the Council’s area. The Licensing and Environmental Manager replied that depending on the responses to the consultation, it might be appropriate to limit its application to urban areas. Councillor Lees said that the thought the policy went too far; A-frames were largely concentrated in Bath city centre and he suggested that the application of the policy should be limited to where there were the most problems, in a manner akin to the cumulative impact policy for licensed premises. He suggested it would be inappropriate to charge a village grocer a fee for putting items outside his shop. The Senior Legal Adviser said that shopkeepers were legally entitled to display their wares outside their shops and the policy document provided guidance about what was considered reasonable. Councillor Lees wondered why it was not possible to control highway obstructions with existing policy rather than introducing a new licensing regime. Councillor Chalker suggested that what was needed was common sense rather than more regulation; shopkeepers could be asked to site objects nearer to their shops. Councillor Curran said he did not think a charge of £100 for a permit was excessive and that people in Weston or Keynsham had as much right to unobstructed pavements as people in central Bath. Unrestrained cluttering of the highway could not be allowed. Councillor Lees said that obstruction was more likely to occur where the most people were. Councillor Paradise said that the number of passers-by varied greatly between weekdays and Saturdays. The Chair agreed with Councillor Curran that the same rules should apply everywhere.

Councillor Batt suggested that if permits were introduced they should last for a full year from the date granted and not terminate on 31^st March irrespective of the date of grant.

Councillor Chalker asked about the status of parked vehicles carrying advertising boards. He had recently telephoned Cash for Cars about an unlicensed vehicle carrying one of their advertisements and they had agreed to move it. The Environmental and Licensing Manager said that the control of advertising was the responsibility of Planning, not Environmental Services. The Senior Legal Adviser said that owner of a motor-propelled vehicle which was taxed and insured had the right to have it on the highway. However, in recent cases advertisements on parked vehicles had been held to be unlawful. He added that the Council did not have the power to fine  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.