Minehead Town Council Clarifies where Council meetings can be held
Minehead Town Council is concerned that incorrect and misleading information is appearing on social media about the eligibility of Minehead Social Club as a venue for Minehead Town Council meetings.
The legality of holding Council meetings at a venue with a licence to serve alcohol was one of many concerns raised by Councillors last year about the way Minehead Town Council was being run.
On 14 May 2019 Minehead Town Council again held a Full Council Meeting and Annual Town meeting at Minehead Social Club. Prior to the 14 May meeting Minehead Town Council checked availability of other suitable venues; none were available.
Further research also revealed that Minehead Town Council Standing Orders, the Local Government Act 1972 Section 10(1) and the Parish Council Governance Toolkit all agree that meetings can take place in a licensed premises provided that, at the time of the meeting, the bar is closed and alcohol is not for sale.
Council meetings can also be held in licensed premises with alcohol for sale where no other suitable room is available either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.
Notes:
1. Minehead Town Council Standing Orders state at paragraph 3a ‘meetings shall not take place in premises which at the time of the meeting are used for the supply of alcohol. unless no other premises are available free of charge or at a reasonable cost’.
2. Local Government Act 1972 Section 10 (1) states ‘Meetings of a parish council shall be held at such place, either within or without their area, as they may direct, but shall not be held in [premises which at the time of such a meeting may, by virtue of a premises licence or temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003, be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act)] unless no other suitable room is available either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.
3. The Parish Council Governance Toolkit states “Meetings shall not be held in premises being used at the time for the supply of alcohol as permitted by the Licensing Act 2003 unless no other suitable room is available free of charge or at a reasonable cost’
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Minehead Town Council is concerned that incorrect and misleading information is appearing on social media about the eligibility of Minehead Social Club as a venue for Minehead Town Council meetings.
The legality of holding Council meetings at a venue with a licence to serve alcohol was one of many concerns raised by Councillors last year about the way Minehead Town Council was being run.
On 14 May 2019 Minehead Town Council again held a Full Council Meeting and Annual Town meeting at Minehead Social Club. Prior to the 14 May meeting Minehead Town Council checked availability of other suitable venues; none were available.
Further research also revealed that Minehead Town Council Standing Orders, the Local Government Act 1972 Section 10(1) and the Parish Council Governance Toolkit all agree that meetings can take place in a licensed premises provided that, at the time of the meeting, the bar is closed and alcohol is not for sale.
Council meetings can also be held in licensed premises with alcohol for sale where no other suitable room is available either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.
Notes:
1. Minehead Town Council Standing Orders state at paragraph 3a ‘meetings shall not take place in premises which at the time of the meeting are used for the supply of alcohol. unless no other premises are available free of charge or at a reasonable cost’.
2. Local Government Act 1972 Section 10 (1) states ‘Meetings of a parish council shall be held at such place, either within or without their area, as they may direct, but shall not be held in [premises which at the time of such a meeting may, by virtue of a premises licence or temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003, be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act)] unless no other suitable room is available either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.
3. The Parish Council Governance Toolkit states “Meetings shall not be held in premises being used at the time for the supply of alcohol as permitted by the Licensing Act 2003 unless no other suitable room is available free of charge or at a reasonable cost’
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