Apologies were received from Councillor Lisa Blakemore, Councillor Liz Jaeger and Councillor Sue Jones

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Members are requested to declare any interests orally at the start of the meeting and again immediately before consideration of the matter. Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and whether the interest is of a personal or prejudicial nature.

Members are also reminded of the requirements of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 that they should declare and not vote on specified matters if they are two months or more in arrears with their Council Tax payments.

Councillor Chappell declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 4: SEX ESTABLISHMENT LICENSING: ADOPTIVE CHANGES TO THE LAW: SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND SEX ESTABLISHMENT POLICY by virtue of her involvement in opposing the only venue of this type in the borough.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2010 attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 July be received and approved, and the Chairman be authorised to sign them.

Results of the consultation on sex establishments, including whether or not to adopt the new powers to licence Sexual Entertainment Venues, the appropriate number of such sexual entertainment venues, of sex cinemas and sex shops to be located in the borough.

Report of the Head of Licensing attached.

Councillor Chappell declared a personal and prejudicial interest by virtue of her involvement in opposing the only venue of this type in the borough and left the meeting for the duration of this item.

Officers amended the recommendations on the report to read:

“That the Committee decide whether the new legislation should be adopted.”

It was noted that the level of response to this consultation could not be judged, as there had not been consultation using electronic means in the past.

Mrs Rosemary Jarvis, on behalf of Twickenham Christian Concern

Mrs Jarvis thanked the council for consulting on this legislation and welcomed any measures which opposed sexual entertainment venues.  Twickenham Christian Concern had worries about the effects such establishments could have on children and local communities in a borough such as Richmond upon Thames.  Mrs Jarvis called for the numbers of each type of sex establishment premises to be set at nil.

RESOLVED that the adoption of the new legislation be approved, with a view to considering the number of each type of venue and agreeing a policy document at the next Regulatory Committee meeting.

The Council’s draft Licensing Policy issued for consultation has been re drafted following public consultation.  This report outlines the requirement for the policy, the constraints on its content, the consultation exercise undertaken and the key changes made as a result of consultation responses.

The Licensing Policy will be presented at Council, once a final draft has been agreed by this committee.

Report of the Head of Licensing attached.

Further representations were submitted by the Richmond Society and The Friends of Richmond Green and the meeting was adjourned to enable committee members to familiarise themselves with the content.

[The meeting adjourned between 7.35pm and 7.45pm.]

Mr Peter Willan, on behalf of the Richmond Society and the Friends of Richmond Green

Mr Willan stated that they had aimed to clarify the policy without tightening it up.  He stated that they were happy with the points that had been included in respect of the extension of the Richmond cumulative impact zone, but wished for the committee to give further consideration to the rest of their suggestions in the future.  Mr Willan asked that reference be made to “at some distance from” under the cumulative impact section.  He also requested that the change asked for under 6.2 be accepted.  It was also suggested that “off-sales” be given greater recognition in the policy as he felt that some disruption often took place at a distance from licensed premises.

Following questions to officers, the meeting was advised that:

·         The reference to “off-licences” was deliberately removed from paragraph 4.10, as it would be mentioned elsewhere, making the document more robust.

Views

·         Where possible, additional information should be presented in advance of meetings.

·         Section P of the application form was very brief meaning it was biased against interested parties.

RESOLVED that the policy be recommended for approval at Council, subject to final amendments being made by the Head of Licensing in conjunction with the Chairman of the committee.