Agenda item - Report of the Live Music Policy Panel

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Agenda item

Report of the Live Music Policy Panel

Report of the Executive Director, Finance & Resources (copy attached).

Decision:

1)            That the Committee agrees the recommendations of the Live Music Venues Policy Panel (attached at Appendix 1 as amended).

Minutes:

47.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Finance & Resources that set out the findings of the Policy Panel examining Live Music Venues. The Policy Panel had been established in response to a petition received by the Council in March 2015 and agreement to establish a Panel into the matter in July 2015.

 

47.2      As Chair of the Policy Panel, Councillor Miller gave an overview of the evidence heard by the group and the rational for the recommendations proposed. Councillor Miller thanked the lead petitioner, Mr Stack for raising the issue, those that had given evidence at meetings of the Panel and to officers and fellow councillors for their input and support. Councillor Miller stated that considering a complex issue in the form of a Policy Panel had been very useful and felt such a format should be used more regularly.

 

47.3      Councillor Atkinson commended Councillor Miller for his role as Chair on the Policy Panel that represented a very good example of cross-party working. Councillor Atkinson noted that after hearing evidence from those involved in the local music industry, there had been a clear need to widen the scope beyond noise issues relating to live music and that was clearly set out in the Panels concise yet detailed report.

 

47.4      Councillor Deane echoed the praise and acknowledgements made by Councillors Miller and Atkinson. Councillor Deane stated that it had been interesting to hear evidence that gave a perspective that the council was obstructive in its relations with local live music venues. Councillor Deane felt the recommendations of the Panel were thorough and would have a positive impact in the city if agreed.

 

47.5      Councillor Horan stated that she had found the report to be to very high standard with a positive approach and praised the Members involved.

 

47.6      Councillor Greenbaum welcomed the report that she had found very detailed and of interest.

 

47.7      Councillor Janio stated his concern that recommendations were too wide in scope and that the Panel had operated beyond its remit. In particular, Councillor Janio stated that the recommendations appeared to undermine the sovereignty of the council’s existing legislative and regulatory committees and requested assurance that the recommendations would apply to live music only.

 

47.8      The Environmental Health Manager explained the original petition had concerned live music but upon hearing evidence, the issue was complex and overlapped into many other areas. That complexity was represented in the membership of the proposed Night Time Economy Partnership.

 

47.9      The Chair stated that any decisions made by the Partnership or arising from the report would still remain with the council’s committees including Licensing Committee and the Economic Development & Culture Committee.

 

47.10   Councillor Janio stated that he wished for the composition and membership of the Partnership to be approved by this and the Economic Development & Culture Committee. Councillor Janio asked for legal advice on how the Policy Panel recommendations could be re-worded to address the issue raised regarding sovereignty.

 

47.11   The Chair stated that the Partnership did not formal status and would be an advisory group consisting of the key players in the night time economy and would be a forum for discussion not decision making.

 

47.12   Councillor Miller agreed and explained that the Panel’s intention was for the Partnership to inform the various committees, not replace their decision-making functions.

 

47.13   Councillor Wares stated his agreement with the concerns raised by Councillor Janio and the purpose of any partnership should be how music and live venues fit into the night time economy and not broader.

 

47.14   Councillor Horan stated that the Night Time Economy Partnership was an excellent demonstration of joined up working and because of the complexity of the night time economy, Members should not seek to limit what could be spoken about by the Partnership.

 

47.15   In relation to the request made by Councillor Janio, the Deputy Head of Law stated that recommendation 1 of the Policy Panel report could be amended to read “To establish a Night Time Economy Partnership focussed on live music” and the first bullet point of recommendation 1 to be amended to read: “Review the effectiveness of existing policies and develop new policies as appropriate in relation to live music”.

 

47.16   On behalf of the Conservative Group, Councillor Theobald moved a motion to amend recommendation 1 of the Live Music Venues Policy Panel report as set out above.

 

47.17   Councillor Miller seconded the motion.

 

47.18   The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote as amended which passed.

 

47.19   RESOLVED- That the Committee agrees the recommendations of the Live Music Venues Policy Panel (attached at Appendix 1 as amended).

Supporting documents:

 


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