Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Committee.  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. 

https://democracy.chorley.gov.uk/documents/s67429/Appendix%203%20Standing%20Orders%20Aug%2016.pdf

There were no public questions.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee held on Wednesday, 6 February 2019 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the General Licensing Sub-Committees held on 13 February and 19 June 2019 be confirmed as a correct record.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committees held on 13 March and 12 June 2019 be confirmed as a correct record.

Nathan Howson, Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing), presented a report of

the Director (Customer and Digital) regarding a proposal made by the Hackney Driver’s Association Ltd to increase to the Table of Fares for Hackney Carriages.

Members discussed the report, noting fares and waiting times (where the driver waits for the fare to arrive) were increasing slightly. Officers advised that Chorley last increased fares in 2012. With regards to Private Hire Vehicles, Members noted that these were set by the individual Operators rather than the Council.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the written request for a fare increase along with any verbal representations the Association or their representatives may make before making a decision be noted.

2.    That the proposed increase to the table of fares be agreed, subject to the statutory consultation being carried out and no objections being received.

3.    That, in the event major objections are received during the statutory consultation period, the matter be brought back before the Committee for determination.

4.    That, in the event minor objections are received during the statutory consultation period, the matter be discussed with the Chair and Vice- Chair of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee and a determination made.

5.    That a change be made to the Taxi Licensing Policy to require an application to renew a Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence be accompanied by a new Taximeter Calibration Certificate, to reflect the change in fares, with effect from the implementation of the new fare.

Members to discuss the dates and times for future Licensing and Public Safety Committee and General Licensing Sub-Committee dates.

Current schedule is:

Licensing and Public Safety Committee:

·         13 Nov 2019 2.00 pm

·         12 Feb 2020 2.00 pm

General Licensing Sub-Committee:

·         24 Jul 2019 2.00 pm

·         14 Aug 2019 2.00 pm

·         11 Sep 2019 2.00 pm

·         9 Oct 2019 2.00 pm

·         6 Nov 2019 2.00 pm

·         4 Dec 2019 2.00 pm

·         8 Jan 2020 2.00 pm

·         5 Feb 2020 2.00 pm

·         4 Mar 2020 2.00 pm

·         8 Apr 2020 2.00 pm

·         20 May 2020 2.00 pm

Members discussed the dates and times for future Licensing and Public Safety Committee and General Licensing Sub-Committee dates and agreed that the current arrangement of daytime meetings was more convenient for Councillors and taxi drivers to attend.

RESOLVED – That the meetings continue to be scheduled during the day and that the following schedule be approved:

Licensing and Public Safety Committee:

·         13 Nov 2019 2.00 pm

·         12 Feb 2020 2.00 pm

General Licensing Sub-Committee:

·         24 Jul 2019 2.00 pm

·         14 Aug 2019 2.00 pm

·         11 Sep 2019 2.00 pm

·         9 Oct 2019 2.00 pm

·         6 Nov 2019 2.00 pm

·         4 Dec 2019 2.00 pm

·         8 Jan 2020 2.00 pm

·         5 Feb 2020 2.00 pm

·         4 Mar 2020 2.00 pm

·         8 Apr 2020 2.00 pm

·         20 May 2020 2.00 pm

Discussion item requested by the Chair, Councillor Matthew Lynch.

Councillor Matt Lynch, Chair of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee, proposed that letters be sent from the Committee to various Secretaries of State, Ministers and Chief Executives of bodies and authorities to highlight the difficulties experienced in receiving appropriate information in a timely manner when requested for Licensing Hearings.

Members discussed the proposal and agreed that letters should be sent but that emphasis should be placed on ensuring responsible partners had enough resources to enable them to prioritise these requests for information. In response to a Member’s question, officers advised that allowing Licensing Authorities access to Police databases had been discussed nationally, but there was no impetus to facilitate this owing to the level of personal information that would unnecessarily be shared by default. 

Officers advised the Committee to also contact the Local Government Association with their concerns, who may be able to assist with lobbying central government and raise these issues on behalf of Local Authorities.

RESOVLED – That letters be drafted.

Tracy Brzozowski, Customer Services Manager (Enforcement), presented a verbal report seeking approval to revise the Council’s “Statement of Principles” under the Gambling Act 2005.

In response to Members’ questions, it was advised that changes would be made to reflect new guidance and for technical updates (i.e. officer names), but that no major changes were anticipated.

Members noted that consultation was proposed for 1 – 31 August 2019. Any amendments would be made prior to the revised Policy being reported at this Committee’s meeting on 13 November 2019 for recommendation to Full Council on 19 November 2019. If approved, the revised “Statement of Principles” would run for three years commencing on 23 November 2019.

RESOLVED –

1.    To grant approval to revise the Council’s “Statement of Principles” under the Gambling Act 2005; and

2.    To agree a formal consultation period of 1 August 2019 to 31 August 2019.