Agenda and draft minutes

The Sub-Committee will elect a Chairman for the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Wiggins and:-

RESOLVED that Councillor J Henderson be elected as Chairman for the meeting.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee, held on Monday 9 September 2024.

It was moved by Councillor Wiggins, seconded by Councillor Smith and:-

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on Monday, 9 September 2024, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

The Sub-Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

The Sub-Committee was informed that Councillor Casey, who had originally been due to have attended this meeting as the fourth ‘standby’ Member, had had to submit his apologies due to another engagement that Councillor Casey needed to attend in his civic capacity as Chairman of the Council. Councillor A Cossens had agreed to attend in his place.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To determine a request for the licence holder to show to the public a number of short films that has not been classified by the British Board of Film Classification.

The request to show the short film has been made by Michael Offord of Electric Palace Harwich on behalf of the Harwich International Shanty Festival. The film would be shown at the Electric Palace Harwich between 11 October 2024 and 13 October 2024.

The Sub-Committee heard that The Electric Palace at Harwich gave the opportunity to local film makers to show their films to the public through various public events. The Electric Palace, Harwich wanted to support local and regional talent and, as an exhibitor of films, the best way they felt that could be achieved was to provide an opportunity for Essex based creatives to show their films to new audiences. However, one of the major difficulties facing short film makers was the cost of obtaining a BBFC classification.

Members were told that, the film submitted by The Electric Palace, Harwich on behalf of the Harwich International Shanty Festival would be shown as part of the festival in October 2024.

The Sub-Committee was made aware that, the Harwich International Shanty Festival had been set up in 2006 to organise and co-ordinate an annual sea shanty festival over a weekend in October. Through concerts, sing-rounds, pub sessions, talks and workshops, the history and heritage of Harwich as part of the British seafaring nation was celebrated, promoted and perpetuated by local people and groups. That was unique for the county of Essex and was attracting audiences countrywide and beyond.

The Licensing Manager went on to state that, by assisting the cinema in providing the classification service at a cost neutral fee, the Council through its Premises/Personal Licences Sub-Committee was helping to promote and support the town, the District, the local tourist and leisure industries, and the work of local independent filmmakers.

In addition, The Electric Palace, Harwich was a special venue locally and provided for a diverse range of film and entertainment that was not always catered for by mainstream venues and which attracted and brought visitors into Harwich as a result. The theatre was therefore always an important destination and venue for Tendring’s tourist and leisure industry.

The Chairman (Councillor J Henderson) adjourned the meeting at this time whilst the Sub-Committee retired to deliberate. The Head of Legal Services (Linda Trembath), Litigation Lawyer (Sarah Opene) and the Committee Services Officer (Bethany Jones) retired with the Sub-Committee in case they were asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.