To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2020 were submitted for approval.

Decision

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 30 November 2020.

The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the Annual Report of 2020 Licensing matters.

The Principal Licensing Officer stated the Coronavirus had a large impact on business throughout 2020. The effects of which had seen applications for New Premises Licences and Premises Licence Variations decrease by approximately 20 percent and Temporary Event Notices had decreased by approximately 60 percent. One Premises Licence had been revoked for being in breach of Covid regulations on two occasions in 2020. Government regulation changes had allowed any on-sales Licence Premises to trade with off-sales as take-out venues. Also, 188  Pavement Licences had been issued due to the effects of Coronavirus legislation, allowing premises to use their outside area and the creation of on-street closures to increase this capacity and assist businesses to continue trading in between the two lockdown periods over the summer and early autumn of 2020. The Principal Licensing Officer stated that the Licensing team had adapted to working from home and made some system improvements, using the increased time available from the decrease in applications.

A Committee member requested information on what constitutes an outside area. The Principal Licensing Officer stated that the Government had used the outside smoking legislation as the standard for setting the outside area and that the boundary of the licence for each premises would dictate where on-sales were allowed, adding that premises could take advantage of the current de-regulation and to make off-sales and use non-licenced areas of their premises, such as car parks, finally adding that the Government had issued further guidance in relation to this legislation which had not been available at the time of producing the report.

A Committee member requested further info on Pavement Licences and The Principal Licensing Officer stated that the Government had issued a 12 month extension, stating that they may become a permanent fixture.

Decision

To note the report.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Principal Licensing Officer referred to the recent Government timetable for the gradual re-opening of Licenced Premises, stating that there has been a recent increase of applications. The Principal Licensing Officer referred to the consultation on the new Protect Duty to improve security measures, the impact of Coronavirus on the night-time economy, new requirements on the Security Industry Association (SIA) and consultation on the Gambling Act due to the increase in online gambling.

A Committee member requested information on SIA requirements and when they would be rolled out across Premises in Manchester. The Principal Licensing Officer stated that the work would be carried out as licences are renewed and with all new applicants.

A Committee member requested information on whether doorpersons who travelled from outside Manchester to work could be tracked and also gave mention that the Gambling industry set the Gamble Aware promotion themselves and whether this was appropriate. The Principal Licensing Officer responded, stating that they were currently having conversations with the SIA on where staff are pooled from and would report back at a future Committee meeting and that the Government were looking at the Gambling legislation and that information on this would also be fed back at a future Committee meeting.

Decision

To note the report.