Agenda and minutes

The Convener welcomed everyone to the Local Licensing Forum Development Day, including Pete Turner, who was representing the Street Pastors. The Convener also advised that apologies had been intimated from William Rae, Vice Convener and Sandy Munro, Solicitor.

The Forum resolved:-

to note the apologies.

The Convener gave an update on the Scottish Government Survey carried out between July and October 2022. Key points were:-

·     there were only fourteen responses to the Scottish Government Survey submitted out of approximately forty Forums;

·     Aberdeen was one of the fourteen responses submitted; and

·     only seven out of the fourteen Forums were active during the pandemic which included Aberdeen, Glasgow and Ayrshire.

The Forum resolved:-

(i)             to note the achievements that this Forum had accomplished over the past year;

(ii)           to acknowledge that there was a requirement for National networking and training to share good practice, reflection and to learn from other Forums;

(iii)          to investigate whether any resources were available to support Forums; and

(iv)         to monitor Forum progress in the future.

Work on memberships and make meetings interesting

Feedback from John – really useful as Glasgow is very active, large and well resourced. Overwhelming on on-trade, needs to be more balanced

Link in with off sales – should we link in with John Hislop? To achieve less harm from alcohol

Engage with John Hislop and Elaine and John will get back to the National Lead – is there any flexibility for smaller premises and follow up the off trade issue

Elaine – on survey, there were 14 responses out of 32/40. Only 7 forums were active, which we were one of, also including Glasgow, Ayrshire. Elaine spoke at the meeting and got good feedback. Mostly feedback from Glasgow, importance of having a work plan, what are you trying to do and monitoring that. Agenda items on major city events to celebrate Glasgow, they invited speakers as these may have an impact on alcohol use. Energised the forum and led to recommendations. They also appointed there members to be the same term to join the Licensing Board. You could resign but would be nice to think about, looking over this period. They had reports from LSOs, Police, do we ask for a report twice a year rather than every meetings? Campaigns that we need to be aware of – It will Cost you, started on 5^th June – Police advised that leaflets delivered to off sales in Grampian – to do with someone like me being asked to buy alcohol for kids and what it could cost you.

Elaine – not aware that the Licensing system – fees fund the licensing system and this should break even and have no surplus. There is no budget for LLFs to do anything or support travel etc – is there any surplus? Elaine and John funded there trip to Glasgow. If the Board had surplus – this could be a pot for LLF – sharing of information is key for these events, talking to others and the energy you get from it – valuable. On training, Alcohol Focus Scotland don’t have resources to help forums but have set out online training and may help with bespoke training.

It was stated at meeting on Friday - To remember that the Licensing Board is not part if the Council – it is an independent body – ASK SANDY? What are the implications?

The Convener advised the Forum that she and John Mooney, Vice Convener had attended a Scottish Government Event for Local Licensing Forums on 9 June 2023 in Glasgow. All attendees found the event to be energising, useful and worthwhile. Feedback to Forum members in relation the event included:-

·     that a significant amount of discussion at the event focussed on the rise in off-sales;

·     that when any major event was planned in Glasgow, which may involve alcohol, the Forum invited speakers to attend their meeting, which may result in a recommendation to the Licensing Board; 

·     to note that Glasgow Local Licensing Forum appoint their members for the same term as Licensing Board members;

·     that Licensing fees and expenditure should balance with no surplus, and it was suggested that in the event of a surplus, Forums could request funds to support their development and activity; and

·     that Forum members be reminded that the Licensing Board was not part of the Council, it was an independent body.

The Forum resolved:-

(i)             to note the discussions in relation to the rise in off-sales and to increase their consideration of the implications of this rise;

(ii)           to ensure that the Local Licensing Forum members were aware of National Campaigns, e.g. “It Will Cost You”, which started on 5 June 2023 and was focussed on increasing awareness among adults, noting that if they buy alcohol for someone under-age they were committing a crime which may cause severe consequences for them;

(iii)          to note that the Convener and Vice Convener would engage with those managing the relaunch of the Best Bar None scheme and to explore the development of an equivalent scheme for off-sales;

(iv)          to engage with members whose attendance at meetings was infrequent;

(v)           to explore ways to ensure that meetings were of interest and value to those who gave up their time to attend;

(vi)          to discuss reporting to the Licensing Board meetings regarding frequency and content;

(vii)         to request further information from Sandy Munro, Solicitor, on the implications of the Licensing Board not being part of the Council;

(viii)       to note that Alcohol Focus Scotland were developing online training for Forums; and

(ix)          to liaise with Sandy Munro in relation to the budget which could be made available to the Local Licensing Forum to support travel to worthwhile events in Scotland where networking and sharing information were key.

The Convener summarised the activity that had been undertaken by the Forum recently, which included the following:-

·     completing four Community Council sessions, which would enable them to follow the Licensing process. Topics included the licensing objectives, the licensing process and how they should present themselves in front of skilled Legal personnel, whilst in an intimidating environment;

·     working with the Licensing Team to provide updated guidelines and proforma to assist when making a representation at the Licensing Board; and

·     the development of our relationship with the Licensing Board.

The Forum also made suggestions on how to improve the Forum, which included the following:-

·     to develop an annual workplan and report;

·     to explore ways of targeting and measuring our impact in relation to the impact of alcohol;

·     to seek a regular representative from off-sales to enhance discussions around this topic;

·     to seek a representative from online sales to enhance discussions around this topic;

·     to approach Aberdeen Inspired to request for a representative to join the Forum;

·     to give further consideration on how the Forum measures their impact; and

·     to clarify who the Local Licensing Forum was accountable too.

The Forum resolved:-

to note the summary and suggestions provided.

The Convener invited all members to suggest ways in which they could develop and plan for the future of the Local Licensing Forum, including what they see as the Forums overall aim. Several areas were explored, which included the following:-

·     to review and agree the Forums overall aim as a Forum whilst still delivering what was required by the Licensing Act 2005;

·     to agree a programme of work based on receiving twice yearly reports from the Health Board, Police, LSOs, and Children’s Services, noting that our aim was for these reports and the related discussions to enable us to enhance the Board’s awareness of the impact of alcohol use in the city;

·     to increase our membership further to give the Forum a broader representation and views around the use of alcohol in Aberdeen; and

·     to engage with local initiatives, e.g. ‘the Best Bar None Award Scheme’ and the Proxy Purchase Campaign.

The Forum resolved:-

to note the suggestions provided by the Local Licensing Forum members.

The Convener summarised what the next steps would be for the Forum prior to the next meeting, noting that John Mooney, Vice Convener offered to collate some specific statistics in relation to alcohol related A&E admissions.

The Local Licensing Forum were advised that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on 22 August 2023.

The Forum resolved:-

(i)             to note that John Mooney would provide the Forum with up-to-date statistics at the next meeting; and

(ii)           to note the date of the next meeting.

-                ­ELAINE MOTTRAM, Convener