CHAIR OF LICENSING RE-ELECTED FOR SECOND TERM

8.04.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd May 2008

Cllr Christine Iredale (Lib Dem, Golcar Ward)

At the Annual Meeting on the 21st May, Cllr Christine Iredale (Lib Dem, Golcar Ward) was re-elected as the Chair of the council's Licensing and Safety Committee for the 2008/09 municipal year.

The committee deals with a range of licensing and safety issues in the borough including the granting of taxi licences and entertainment licenses, such as that recently granted to organisers at the Bates Mill complex.

Cllr Iredale says: "I have had a very positive first year as chair of the committee and am looking forward to continuing in the position".

"We are in the process of setting up a complements and complaints line so that local people can inform us of the standard and behaviour of local taxi drivers. We're also looking to improve communications with the drivers by issuing a twice yearly newsletter passing on important information relating to trade meetings and other key issues".

"The Licensing and Safety Panels, made up by members from my own and other political parties, have been excellent this year. I'm also looking forward to working with the newly elected members who have chosen to sit on the panel for their first year".

"The officer support I have received has been first rate and I could not have asked for better".