Agenda and minutes

An apology for inability to attend was reported on behalf of Councillors Michael Collins, Howard, McAteer and McCusker.

            The minutes of the meeting of 29th October and 17th November were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st December, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

            Councillor Mulholland declared an interest in relation to item 3a - Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021, on the basis that she worked for an organisation which applied for occasional liquor licences, and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion.

            The Committee noted a list of licences for Houses in Multiple Occupation which had, since its last meeting, been issued under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

The Building Control Manager submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To provide the Committee with an update on the recent changes to the liquor licencing laws in Northern Ireland and to establish a position in relation to any objections which the Council may wish to lodge in relation to applications arising from the amended legislation. 

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       Having considered the key issues outlined, the Committee is recommended to review the options outlined in the undernoted sections of the report and establish a position in relation to any objections which the Council may wish to lodge arising from notification of various liquor licence applications arising from the amended legislation.

3.0       Background

3.1       The Committee, at its meeting on 20th October, agreed to defer consideration of a report on the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (NI) 2021 to a special meeting and agreed also that, in the interim, applications which had been notified to the Council would be dealt with under delegated authority, thereby permitting the Strategic Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to lodge objections to notices of applications received under liquor licensing legislation. The Member who proposed the special meeting is content, due to the lack of business, for the issue to be considered at this meeting.

3.2       The report from the meeting of 20th October has been circulated to the Committee.

3.3       The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (the Licensing Order) sets out the general licensing systems, including procedures governing the granting or renewal of licences by county/magistrates’ courts, permitted hours for the sale of alcoholic drinks, conduct of premises, conditions pertaining to the presence of children in licensed premises, and enforcement. The Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 does the same for the supply of alcoholic drinks in private members’ clubs.

3.4       Enforcement of all matters relating to the sale and supply of alcohol is the responsibility of the PSNI.

4.0       Key issues

            Legislation

4.1       The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (NI) 2021 amends the Licensing Order and the Registrations of Clubs (NI) 1996.

            The key changes, which will take effect in phases, include:

·        All additional restrictions on opening hours over Easter weekend will be removed;

·        Opening hours on Sunday evenings will be the same as any other night;

·        Pubs and Hotels can apply to open until 2 am up to 104 nights per year (instead of 1a.m.);

·        Smaller pubs will be able to open to 1 am up to 104 nights per year;

·        Drinking-up time will be increased to 1 hour (allowing pubs to stay open until 3 am);

·        There will be flexibility around opening hours for bars at major events;

·        A new category of licence will be created for local producers of craft beers, ciders and spirits (allowing drink producers to obtain a licence to sell off-sales alcohol and, in limited circumstances, open taprooms so customers can buy drink alcohol on site);

·        Cinemas will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.