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The Shetland Licensing Forum


Colin
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No-one on the Licensing forum was paid, and were there to represent their own views. Licencees were generally trying to extend their opening hours, and others were trying to reduce what was seen as over-provision, anti-social behaviour and vandalism. Live near the Street and you soon find out how miserable it can be with people, drunk and shouting well into the early hours every weekend.

 

My point of view was that we should improve the state of places serving drink. This was nearly a decade ago, and through natural evolution we have seen improvements, not that I claim any influence over this. Mooney's Wake has closed to be demolished and replaced by housing. A bar has closed down in the street, but The Dowry has opened, which seems very popular. The new Golden Coach was previously a very smart bar. Oslas is being converted into something much better.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Well, thanks to the Shetland News, we now know who some of the current membership of this enigmatic 'Shetland Licensing Forum' are...

 

http://www.shetnews.co.uk/newsbites/16806-bars-unsure-if-responsible-drinking-promotion-would-work

 

Elizabeth Robinson - NHS.

 

Debbie Leask - Wheel.

 

Erik Burgess - Dowry.

 

Bryan Peterson - Wha's he......Name seems a peerie bit familiar. :ponders:

 

Stephen Leask - SIC Councillor.

 

Sonny Thomason - MSYP.

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Dat'll be me!

 

Here's an article outlining the purposes of the Licensing Forums - https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2007/04/13093458/16

 

I was invited to attend several years back as someone with knowledge of the music scene (not to represent Shetland Arts specifically). The meetings are during the day so I don't get to many. 

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Nope, comes up with an error.  Did another search and whilst it comes up with documents for the Licensing Board, I can't see listed anything specifically related to just the Licensing Forum ... or perhaps I'm just being a thicko?

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@ peeriebryan

Thanks, but my point still remains, in that there doesn't appear to be a sub-committee/section heading just for the Licensing Forum and the documents appear to be those that are presented at joint meetings or are produced as a joint entity in conjunction with the Licensing Board ... so when does the Licensing Forum meet on its own to discuss what they, as a forum, are going to present to the Licensing Board?  In a nutshell, it isn't very transparent.

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Since booze is on the agenda, what about up helly a ?

My understanding is that the onus is placed on the guisers to pace themselves (drinkwise) & for the squad leaders to oversee that they do. Not an easy task I'm sure but I believe that consequences for any bad behaviour are more likely to be faced these days. That is at a guess, answering to the Up Helly A committee & potentially losing your place in your squad. I'm sure there will be someone on Shetlink involved in the event that could confirm or deny this.

I personally think that if there are restrictions on alcohol consumption put in place (more than whatever is/if there is at present) that it would be an unnecessary dampner on the night for many. For the folk who are non or light drinkers there is no compulsion for them to change their habit for the night. I think it would be best to leave well alone.

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Well, thanks to the Shetland News, we now know who some of the current membership of this enigmatic 'Shetland Licensing Forum' are...

 

http://www.shetnews.co.uk/newsbites/16806-bars-unsure-if-responsible-drinking-promotion-would-work

 

Elizabeth Robinson - NHS.

 

Debbie Leask - Wheel.

 

Erik Burgess - Dowry.

 

Bryan Peterson - Wha's he......Name seems a peerie bit familiar. :ponders:

 

Stephen Leask - SIC Councillor.

 

Sonny Thomason - MSYP.

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure these folk are not all on the 'licensing forum'.  I think some of them could just be the ones who turned up as many licensed premises were asked to.

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  • 2 weeks later...

@ peeriebryan

 

Thanks, but my point still remains, in that there doesn't appear to be a sub-committee/section heading just for the Licensing Forum and the documents appear to be those that are presented at joint meetings or are produced as a joint entity in conjunction with the Licensing Board ... so when does the Licensing Forum meet on its own to discuss what they, as a forum, are going to present to the Licensing Board?  In a nutshell, it isn't very transparent.

 

The meetings are quarterly, with one annual meeting between the Licensing Forum and the Licensing Board.

 

Fair point re: the how the forum papers are presented on the SIC website. I'll raise that with the chair.

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@ peeriebryan

 

Thanks for that; however, I'm struggling (perhaps because of the way the SIC set up their website) to find a single document from solely the Licensing Forum.  Do they keep meeting minutes or meeting notes of their meetings?  Are these on the SIC website?  Where are these meetings held?  Can the public attend?  If not, why not?

 

I appreciate that you can't necessarily speak for the Licensing Forum and perhaps you'd consider raising these points with them.

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