Joint Meeting with Highland Licensing Board and Licensing Forum. Held in the Council Chambers, Dingwall at 2.30pm on Tuesday 15 December 2009
Note of Meeting
Present:
Highland Licensing Board Members:
Helen Carmichael, Brian Murphy, Peter Corbett, Margaret Paterson, Richard Greene, Norrie Donald, Drew Millar, Roy Pedersen, Pauline Munro, Alasdair Rhind, Deirdre Mackay, Laurie Fraser.
Forum Members:
Suzy Calder, Substance Misuse Strategy and Implementation Officer, HDAAT
Fiona Palin, Head of Operations CJS and Central Services, Social Work. HC
Pat Hayden, Forum Convenor
Janet Home, Resident Member
Tom Ogilvie, Northern Constabulary
Paul Cariss, Resident Member
Officials:
Ian Cox, Licensing Standards Officer for Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey.
Elizabeth Treasurer, Licensing Standards Officer for Ross Skye and Lochaber
David Inglis, Licensing Standards Officer for Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross
David MacPherson, Licensing Standards Officer, Ross Skye and Lochaber
Allan Kerr Solicitor, Highland Council
Donald Somerville Clerk of the Licensing Board, HC
Alaisdair MacKenzie, Area Solicitor, Highland Council
Wendy Grosvenor Licensing Assistant, HC
Helen Grant, Admin Assistant, HC
Councillor Margaret Paterson in the Chair
1. Apologies for Absence
Maxine Smith, Katrina MacNab, David Flear, Linda Munro, Craig Fraser, Allan Henderson, John Rosie, Ian MacKenzie, John Ford.
2. Minute of Meeting
There was circulated for confirmation as a correct record, a Minute of the Joint meeting of the Licensing Board and Forum held on 27 November 2008.
Helen Carmichael proposed adoption of the Minute. This was seconded by Richard Greene.
Members ADOPTED the Minute of the meeting held on 27 November 2008.
3. Matters Arising
Members NOTED that there were no matters arising from the Minute of 27 November 2008.
4. Licensing Standards Officer’s Report to Highland Licensing Forum
Ian Cox spoke to Report INBS 74/09 dated 2 December 2009.
Margaret Paterson gave thanks to all staff concerned across the Highland Board area in respect of their hard work and response to the challenges under the 2005 Act.
Pat Hayden stated that it had been a problematic year for the Forum. Issues concerning the function and conduct of the Forum had been raised at the last meeting of the Forum and were now being dealt with. She expected that 2010 would see a new ‘set-up’ in relation to the Forum.
Tom Ogilvie felt that there was a general lack of awareness concerning the function of the Forum. He was seeking, through a Community Tasking Group, to raise awareness in the public sector.
Members NOTED the contents of the report.
5. Transitional Arrangements and Identify Future Issues
Donald Somerville spoke to Report INBS64/09 dated 5th November 2009.
He stated that all Boards within Highland had achieved on all the statutory deadlines. As a result of hard work of staff, no licences had been revoked, post the 1st December 09 deadline.
He noted that Licensing Board costs were very high compared to those under the 1976 legislation. He anticipated a need for a review of fees. He confirmed a review of the Board’s Policy Statement and an Over-Provision consultation to be undertaken in 2010.
Roy Pedersen asked about the timescale for the Over-Provision consultation. Donald Somerville confirmed that as many as 150 localities would have to be looked at. Much depended on the responses received through the consultation process – some of which may need further action. He anticipated completion of the process by end of 2010.
Members NOTED the contents of the report.
6. AOB
None
7. Date of Next Meeting
Members agreed Mid June 2010. Time and venue to be advised nearer the date and circulated by email.
The Meeting concluded at 15.00 hrs.