Walsall councillors slam ‘weak’ licensing and safety committee agendas

At the final meeting of the municipal year this week, members said agenda items over the last 12 months had been disappointing.

The Walsall committee, chaired by councillor Kenneth Ferguson, decides on applications for licensable activities such as entertainment venues, sale of alcohol, taxis and private hire vehicles.

During the pandemic, officers were given extra delegation powers but members argued that the current balance may have gone too far.

Councillor Suki Samra said: “This is a main regulatory committee, it’s very disappointing that a lot more information is not put before us.

“We used to have the police come to this meeting at least once or twice a year. A senior manager at the department used to come before this committee as well.

“The agenda tonight is very weak, it’s been weak most of this municipal year.

“As a previous chair, these meetings were thorough. We used to have some serious appeals which would come to the committee.

“I don’t know why that has dried up, I don’t know the last time this committee heard an appeal.”

Councillor Matt Ward said: “With all due respect chair, you are the chair of the committee, you should be asking officers what’s going on in this town.

“That’s why you get paid significant money for the few meetings that have taken place.”

Councillor Furgeson said: “For your information, I have asked some of the questions to [the licensing team leaders] previously, out of this room.”

Councillor Khizar Hussain said: “Over the years we have had great volumes of applications coming in to committee A and B.

“Most recently, in the last couple of years, there’s still a decline and we’ve had cancellation of committees.

“I’m a bit concerned because it never used to be a problem before. What’s gone on there?”

Councillor Aftab Nawaz added: “We’ve had some times where the committee has not met, or met and there’s only one issue to discuss. We feel that we’ve delegated too much across.”

Dave Elrington, head of community safety and enforcement at Walsall Council, explained that if a case is in line with the council’s existing policy, officers are able to delegate.

He said: “There were some specific delegations during covid because of the fast changing nature of the pandemic. My delegations are largely in line with policy delegations.

“The cases I can’t make a decision on are if people have discretions that deviate from the council’s policy.

“I have no power to deviate from council policy as an officer whereas elected members can.”