There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of 15 October 2020 were agreed as a correct record. 

The Licensing Manager presented an overview of the report which followed a previous report agreed by the Committee on 9^th June 2020.

Following the implementation of the Regulatory Services Partnership, officers looked to review the process for special treatment licences to introduce a single system across the partnership and with the agreement of the Licensing Committee in June 2020 a consultation was undertaken. All existing licence holders were notified of the proposed changes last year late August/early September with the closing date for receipt of comments being the 18^th October 2020. It was noted that the consultation took place during a period when premises were open. No negative responses were received to the proposals from Massage and Special Treatments licence holders in Merton. Similar consultations were carried out in the London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth. This resulted in receipt of three representations from Richmond premises licence holders. In response to the comments received, some small modifications were proposed to the draft licence conditions. No changes were otherwise proposed. The results of comments received for the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames will be taken to the Regulatory Committee in February 2021, with  Wandsworth having passed their report in November 2020.

The proposed fees would cover the true costs of administering the licences and the fee structure had been amended to be risk based.

In response to member questions, the Licensing Manager and Commercial Services Managers advised:

·         Whilst the Boroughs would have the same basic fee structure, the fees would vary for each Borough as is required where different Boroughs have different cost levels to cover.

·         The consultation in Richmond had received one negative comments from higher risk premises licensed for tattooing, which had caused their premises to be in the higher fee band.

·         Income cost projections for the new fees had not been undertaken as it was currently unclear how many licences would be renewed/which premises would reopen following the most recent Covid-19 restrictions.

RESOLVED :

A.     The Licensing Committee adopted the standard conditions for Special Treatment Premises Licences as set out in Appendix B to this report to take effect from the 1^st April 2021, or the date of first renewal thereafter.

B.  The Licensing Committee approved the proposed fee structure to take effect from the 1^st April 2021 and to recommend fee levels for approval by the Director of Environment and Regeneration in February 2021 as set out in Appendix A to this report.

C.  The Licensing Committee confirmed the adoption of the regulations governing applications for grant, renewal, transfer and variation of special treatment licences and their determination as set out in Appendix C to this report to take effect on the 1^st April 2021.

D. The Licensing Committee confirmed approval that broad categories of treatments will be licenced to take effect on the 1^st April 2021, or the date of first renewal thereafter

Miscellaneous Licensing Matters

The Chair thanked Philip Kolvin QC on behalf of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.