Meeting documents

Current Position

1. The programme continues to progress against plan.

2. The workstreams remain focussed on developing indicative service structures to help support the new Management team and the ‘must have’ projects. Of the original 98 I am pleased to confirm 8 are already complete, with a further 28 over 50% complete.


Appointments

3. At the time of writing this update the final stage of the recruitment process for the new Corporate Directors and Assistant Chief Executive had begun. I will be able to update members verbally on the conclusions of this at the Cabinet meeting on 23rd.


Members Seminars

4. On the 9th October a seminar was held for Members on the development of a county wide policy for Licensing and Gambling.

5. The Licensing policy which the Council, as the Licensing Authority (LA), must adopt under the Licensing Act 2003 will be the function of the Licensing Committee.

6. Predominantly it allows the issuing of licenses and permissions for the retail sale of alcohol, provision of regulated entertainment or late night refreshment. The policy also provides Members with parameters under which to make their decisions, although in most instances if an application is not subject to representation decisions will be made at officer level.

7. The Gambling Act 2005 came into force on 1 September 2007 and transferred responsibilities from Magistrates’ Courts to Licensing Authorities in respect of issuing licences/permits for gambling premises. The policy that has been developed provides premises licences for: Bingo, betting offices, adult gaming centre, track betting and casinos

8. The policy advises how the new authority will carry out its functions under the Gambling Act in determining applications.

9. Further seminars are scheduled for:

· 27th October - Taxi Licensing Policy
· 28th October - General LGR update to include HR issues and the proposals for undertaking the next stage of consultation on the Area Action Partnerships
· 3rd November - Council Tax, including proposed policy changes which affect the recovery timetables and enforcement methods for council tax and business rates, council tax on second homes and benefit fraud.

Future Priorities

10. Some of the key programme developments that the JIT will be considering over the next month include:

· Area Action Partnership consultation
· Models for Area Based Service Delivery
· A Customers and Access strategy
· Proposals for Member Planning Committees
· Local Development Scheme
· Complaints and Compliments procedures
· Sub Regional Allocations Policy
· Section 106 Agreements
· Statement of Community Involvement
· Waste Policy and Procedures

Recommendations 11. Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

Contact: Roger Goodes Tel: 0191 383 5714

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