Meeting Details

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors' Code of Conduct, there were no declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda or any declarations of Member's interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) asked Committee to consider an application for the granting of a later hours catering licence received on 3 February 2020 subject to adverse representations from local residents.

Councillor Cowie left the meeting during the discussion of this item.

During the consideration of the item, Councillor Alexander moved to refuse the application on the grounds of location and public nuisance and for the opening hours to be kept at 4pm - 11pm 7 days per week.  This was seconded by Councillor Gatt.

Councillor Aaron McLean proposed, seconded by Councillor Coy to support the application to extend the opening hours Monday - Thursday 4pm - 12am, Friday - Saturday 4pm - 1.30am with the exception of Keith Show day extended until 2.30am.

On the division there voted:

Accordingly the amendment became the finding of the meeting and the Committee agreed to grant the late hours catering licence.

The Senior Solicitor informed the Committee that this application had been withdrawn and the licence will be granted under delegated authority following the applicants agreement to accept the Police Scotland recommendations.

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) updated the Committee on the overall income versus expenditure for Civic Government and other miscellaneous licensing for the last financial year by way of an annual financial report and make predictions in respect of likely future income and expenditure.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to consider and note:

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) presented to the Committee the draft policy statement for approval so it can be published for public consultation and invited the Committee to consider the draft policy in relation to a resolution which was passed on 6 November 2019 for the provision of a new licensing regime for Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) in Moray.

During consideration of the report, Councillor Divers moved that the number of Sexual Entertainment venues in Moray be set at zero, this was seconded by Councillor Alexander.

Councillor Coy, seconded by Councillor Bremner proposed that the number of Sexual Entertainment venues in Moray be set at 1.

On the division there voted:

Accordingly the motion became the finding of the meeting and the Committee agreed to set the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues in Moray at zero.

Following further consideration the Committee agreed to:

Under reference to Item 4 on the agenda, Councillor Gatt sought clarification on whether, in the future any applications on the agenda at publication and subsequently withdrawn for consideration are considered by the Committee.

Councillor Coull further asked whether the Ward members for the withdrawn applications could be consulted if not considered by the Committee.

In response, the Senior Solicitor confirmed that withdrawn applications could be discussed but Members would need to be specific about which applications they wished to consider as this would require changes to the Delegated Authority permissions.  He further added that he could look at permutations but was it just Late Hours Catering Licence applications that members of the Committee wished to consider.  The Senior Solicitor said that he was happy to take forward ideas and circulate to the Committee for comment.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Louise Nicol.