J McSorley, Convener, presided.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting members were advised that this meeting of the Policy Board would be recorded and would be available to view on the Council's website.

S McLean and T Mills

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the previous meeting of the Renfrewshire Licensing Forum held on 28 February 2022.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

DECIDED: That it be noted that there were no matters arising from the previous meeting.

Constable Moore-McGrath, Police Scotland, provided a verbal update on local licensing issues which had arisen since the previous meeting, advising that Police Scotland had attended 91 incidents within licenced premises during the period, and had undertaken 183 pro-active inspections.

She advised that there were no issues arising from these visits and no matters which  required to be reported to the Licensing Board.

She further advised that if the Pub Watch scheme was reintroduced, Police Scotland would be keen to attend any meetings and share information. J McSorley indicated that he would be interested in attending meetings of the Pubwatch scheme. C Cardosi advised that the scheme was still running and was chaired by J Smith from the Gantry. She indicated that she would email the chair of the scheme on behalf of Forum Members who wished to be involved 

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

In the absence of the Licensing Standards Officer, the Convener indicated that he would ask the LSO for a written report which he would subsequently circulate to the Forum. This was agreed unanimously.
 
DECIDED: That the Convener obtain a written update from the LSO for circulation to the Forum Members.

The Convener provided a verbal report the Licensing Issues Sub-group, indicating that some of the planned meetings had been postponed due to illness, however those which had taken place had been positive.

He indicated that the issues discussed had included more frequent communication between the Licensing Forum and the Licensing Board; updates on best practice in relation to the five Licensing Objectives of the Board; raising the profile of the Forum and linking in with the press to provide information on its activities; the introduction of short-life working groups to look at issues which might arise; and the new Licensing Policy Statement and how the Forum can input into this. He further advised that following his meeting with all the Forum members, he would formulate an Action Plan for the Forum’s approval.

Discussion followed in relation to the potential local training for Board members in addition to national training provided by Alcohol Focus Scotland and linking up with Paisley 1st in relation to training. The Assistant Managing Solicitor (Licensing) indicated that these issues could be raised with the new Board Convener once the post was filled at the next meeting of the Board in June. 

The Convener proposed that he would write to the new Board Convener, once appointed,  to indicate that the Forum would encourage of a training event and would be amenable to facilitating this. This was agreed unanimously.
 
DECIDED: The Convener write to the new Board Convener, once appointed,  to indicate that the Forum would be encouraging of a training event and would be amenable to facilitating this.

There was submitted the Alcohol Focus Scotland newsletter for March  2022.

The newsletter provided updates on evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee; drug and alcohol services; youth engagement and alcohol marketing; AFS response to EU labelling consultation. 

The newsletter also provided updates on the Human Rights Consortium Scotland response to the Human Rights Act Reform Consultation; and research into MUP and cross-border purchases; the marketing and consumption of no and low alcohol products in the UK; and the Cross-Party Group on Improving Scotland’s Health  

DECIDED: That the newsletter be noted.

DECIDED: Members noted that the next meeting of Renfrewshire Licensing Forum was scheduled to be held at 2pm on 12 September 2022.