Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chairman for this meeting.

Nominations for a Chairman of the Licensing Sub Committee were sought and it was

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Kevin Daley as Chairman for this meeting only.

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

Apologies were received from Cllr Nic Puntis and Cllr Kevin Daley was substituting for him. 

The Chairman will give details of the exits to be used in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman gave the details of the exits to be used in the event of an emergency and confirmed that the hearing was not being recorded by Wiltshire Council.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman will explain the attached procedure to those present.

The Chairman explained the procedure to be followed at the hearing, as contained within the “Hearing Procedure Summary – Classification of Films” (Page 5 of the Agenda refers).

To consider whether to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the business specified in Agenda item 7 in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the Act) because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A, Part 1, paragraph 6b under the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

The Sub Committee were in agreement that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda item 7 and duly:

Resolved:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Minute Number 7 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6b of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

To consider and determine the classifications of a number of short films that are to be shown as part of the Ignite Film Festival at the Marlborough Parade Cinema between 28 June and 1 July 2022.  The Sub Committee will view the films and make their determinations following each film. The briefing report of Linda Holland (Licensing Manager) is attached.

Linda Holland (Licensing Manager) explained to the Sub Committee that a request had been received on behalf of the Ignite Film Festival to classify a number of films which were planned to be shown at the Parade Cinema in Marlborough between 28 June and 1 July 2022, those films not having a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Mr Billy Rees, one of the Directors of the Ignite Film Festival Directors was present and gave the Sub Committee an overview of their plans for the festival.

Twelve films were then shown to the Sub Committee Members and they watched each film in turn and then discussed and agreed the classifications for each to be used for any viewings of the film in Wiltshire.

Resolved:

That the documentary/film, “Birdwatching”, be given the classification of PG for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a PG parental guidance classification. They noted that the film, which was an experimental drama, contained only a very mild sexual reference.  The references to death were mild and discreet.

Resolved:

That the film, “The Fuzzies”, be given the classification of 12A for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a 12A classification. They noted that the film contained moderate physical psychological threat sequences. However, as the film was in the horror comedy genre, the violence was mitigated by the fantasy and comedic setting. The film was felt to warrant higher than a PG rating due to a scene including attempted asphyxiation by use of a towel. Horror scenes, or situations where characters are in danger, should not be prolonged or intense for a  PG rating.

Resolved:

That the film “2020”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

Reasons:

The Sub Committee unanimously agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They concluded that the short experimental film did not contain any contentious material and was set within a positive framework.

Resolved:

That the documentary/film, “The Curious Case of the Boy Jones”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They noted that the animated documentary contained only very mild references to violence. Any images of blood were felt to be mitigated by the animated context and educational and historical nature of the film.

Resolved:

That the documentary/film, “12 o’clock”, be given the classification of 15 for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a 15 classification. They noted that the foreign language film included dangerous behaviour including a number of explicit references to suicide. Different potential methods of committing suicide were depicted including carbon monoxide poisoning and potential drug taking concerning a child which were not felt to be appropriate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.