Forum wants to be heard

Volunteers have called for greater transparency between two bodies working together on licensing in Renfrewshire.

At the Joint Licensing Forum and Licensing Board, members expressed concern that meetings had become no more than a “talking shop”.

The Licensing Forum exists to give general advice but does not make recommendations on particular cases which the Licensing Board presides over.

However, volunteers of the forum said the two were missing “glue” and needed to focus on working together.

Shirley McLean, a forum member, said: “I still don’t feel we work hand-in-hand.

“We feel at times we are just a talking shop. We go round the houses but we don’t seem to get feedback from the board.

“There doesn’t seem to be discussion or debate. We put a lot of time and effort into coming to these meetings and giving our opinion but there doesn’t seem to be that bit of glue.”

Councillor Marie McGurk, a member of the Licensing Board, said she found the body to be “a very effective board”.

She added: “The members take every single piece of work very seriously.

“They’ve very mindful of what they’re able to do, and what they’re not able to do, but they take in mind what the community say to them.”

Forum and board members agreed they would look to improve the collaboration between the two.