Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting hold on 11 November 2021 (copy enclosed)

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain ad a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none

The Public Protection Manager to be in attendance to provide an update on the functions that fall under the remit of the Committee of the Licensing Authority. 

The Public Protection Manager gave an update on a paper received from the Home Office in April to Licensing Committees to highlight the national upturn in cases of drink spiking. The paper asked local authorities to work with relevant authorities around measures to be taken to help reduce the number of cases of drink spiking. The Council had been in touch with Lincolnshire Police to gain their view on the information received from the Home Office and they confirmed that they had written to all Premises Licence Holders within the South Holland area to highlight the risk of spiking.

It was noted that there were very few cases of drink spiking in South Holland with only 2 cases being reported since December 2021, but this was over the winter period and there was likely to be an increase in numbers over the summer months, according to the Police.

The police were promoting a national scheme called Licensing SAVI which encouraged premises to look at the risks within their own operations and ways to assist with safe drinking. Businesses were encouraged to register their interest in the scheme, but the Council had no authority to make them take part in the scheme.

Members raised the following points:

• It was a very important item, but well-run premises should not have the issue and the Authority should take any police reports of drink spiking in our area very seriously.
• Was there any update on the planning appeal for the building where Dorothy Perkins used to be based?
  • Officers responded to say that the issue was still in the hands of the planning inspectorate and a decision on the appeal was due soon.

AGREED:

That the update be noted.

There were none.