Agenda item

The Service Director Legal Services will submit a report providing an overview of the work Licensing Officers are currently undertaking to advise and support licensed premises during the Covid pandemic.

The Service Director Legal Services submitted a report giving an overview of the work Licensing Officers have been undertaking to advise and support Licensed premises during the Covid Pandemic.

Members were informed that at the time of writing the report, all the details were accurate but that things were moving so rapidly the report was out of date with regards to legislation after Barnsley entered Tier 3 at one-minute past midnight on Friday 23^rd October, 2020.  The Licensing Officer informed members that in relation to Licensing holding regular meetings and working closely with partners, premises receiving visits supported by Public Health and Licensing and Regulatory Services following up with premises on reports on non compliance that this had not changed and was still being carried out.

Members noted that due to Tier 3 restrictions only restaurants and premises serving a substantial meal were able to remain open resulting in many premises having to close.  Members were informed that Officers from Licensing and Regulatory Services were working with a number of premises who had evolved in order to comply with the new regulations and were serving food in order to remain open.  The Licensing Officer updated members on what a substantial meal consisted of and it was deemed that this was something you would have for lunch or an evening meal and that the purpose of someone going out had to be for a meal rather than for drinks. 

It was reported that premises would continue to be visited In order to ensure they are operating under the Tier 3 requirements and remained to be covid safe and secure which was at the forefront of everyone’s minds.  Members were informed that there were in the region of 400 premises to contact and support and that these were difficult times for all involved.

In the ensuing discussion, the following matters were highlighted:

·         There had been 2 clusters identified in licensed premises, it was reported that these were investigated and the premises were not deemed to be at fault but that they were caused by the external groups visiting

·         Members raised the issue of some premises closing the whole venue, whereas some venues isolate some staff but remain open and questioned why these were different.  The Licensing Officer reported that all cases receive individual advice as they are all different an example was given in that staff affected may live on the premises thus resulting in the venue closing, whereas other cases may have been someone visiting the venue with no prolonged contact resulting in certain staff being isolated but this showed that there were many variables

·         Members questioned whether there was a maximum number of drinks that people could order with the meal, they were informed that there was not but that the number of drinks ordered would have to be proportionate to the meal and expected time spent in the restaurant.  Various examples were then provided of what might be considered ‘reasonable’.  Members were reminded that the restriction had been brought in in order to reduce the consumption of alcohol being drunk resulting in covid regulations being forgotten.

·         Members were informed that the QR codes in all premises for the Track and Trace App were free and did not cost the premises anything

·         Concerns were raised with regards to premises having to close and the ones that were able to remain open in that if people did not support restaurants, when the pandemic is over there would be nowhere left open

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the report be noted and that Board place on record its thanks and appreciation to all involved in continually working to ensure Covid Regulations are adhered to and keeping everyone safe; and

(ii)        That update reports on all enforcement activity and on work of the Service continue to be submitted to the Regulatory Board on a regular basis