Agenda item

The Convener welcomed all attendees, including Danuta Dobrzanska, the new representative for Aberdeen Inspired to the meeting. The Clerk informed the Forum that apologies for absence had been submitted by Barry Stephen and Adrian Watson.

The Convener acknowledged that Lucy Simpson, who was attending her last Local Licensing Forum meeting, would be missed. The Convener appreciated Ms Simpsons contributions, and wished her all the best in her new role with hope that a suitable replacement would be sought in due course.

An update was provided by the Convener regarding various ongoing initiatives, particularly the search for a young representative. She recalled a positive conversation with Scott Carle from Aberdeen University in August, who had expressed optimism about identifying a suitable candidate. However, although there had been a delay in communication with Mr Carle recently, he confirmed that he was still working on finding a replacement for a young representative. The University had also been in touch with the Convener recently to advise that they were confident that one of their student representatives would be identified in the near future.

Regarding NHS Grampian, the Convener noted that John Mooney, the previous representative, had been seconded to the Scottish Government. Although he may still be connected through his role at Aberdeen University, an official NHS representative was needed. The Convener was scheduled to meet with the Director of Public Health yesterday, but the meeting was postponed due to an NHS crisis. She hoped that the meeting would be rescheduled soon with discussions ongoing about a potential new representative.

The Convener addressed the issue of several members who had not been attending meetings, noting that the Constitution states that if a member misses three successive meetings, a conversation should be initiated with them. While this may seem strict, there were three members who had not attended regularly, although one has recently sent an apology. The Convener sought input on whether these members genuinely wanted to remain on the Forum or if they would be better to let the situation continue meantime.

One member suggested that attendance issues might stem from multiple responsibilities within their roles, which can create challenges. They proposed the idea of creating an induction pack that outlined the benefits of being part of the Forum, emphasising what members could gain from their representation and how it could positively impact their respective services. This could help illustrate the mutual benefits of participation, potentially encouraging existing members who had become less active to re-engage.

The Convener acknowledged Ms Simpsons input and recognised the importance of having conversations with members about their participation. She suggested that creating an induction pack could be beneficial, as it would provide new members with essential information about the Forum's value and how they could contribute. The Convener noted that the Forum was currently in a positive phase, especially following a successful meeting with the Licensing Board in September and emphasised the need to capitalise on this momentum.

It was acknowledged that maintaining contact with members who was absent from meetings was highlighted as a way to keep them engaged and remind them of the Forum's significance.

Pete Turner added that members who did not attend could not vote or provide input, which limited the Forum's effectiveness. He pointed out that certain representatives, such as those from NHS, were required, and if they were not attending, it may be necessary to reach out to their workplaces to ensure that there was proper representation. The work done on success criteria was mentioned as a helpful tool in clarifying the Forum's value.

The Forum resolved:-

(i)       to note the apologies;

(ii)       to note that the Convener would continue to liaise with the various organisations in relation to potential new and/or replacement representations; and

(iii)      to note that the creation of an induction pack would be considered in due course.