Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor David Dickinson.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial 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 of interest.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee held on the following dates:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee meetings held on 15 September 2010 and 20 October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee which took place on the following dates:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 15 September 2010, 20 October 2010, 3 November 2010 and 10 November 2010 be confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chair.

To consider a report from the Director of People and Places (enclosed).

Members of the Committee considered a report from the Director of People and Places which advised Members of the current statutory review of the Council’s Licensing Policy Statement made under the Licensing Act 2003 and to seek adoption of the policy statement subject to the outcome of the current consultation process.

It was proposed by Councillor Ralph Snape, seconded by Councillor Anthony Gee and subsequently unanimously RESOLVED – To recommend approval to the Council’s Executive Cabinet of the reviewed Licensing Policy Statement (Licensing Act 2003) subject to the following:

1. On the expiration of the consultation period (31 December 2010) the Chair of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee and the Head of the Environment be given delegated authority to make any minor amendments arising out of any consultation response.

2. On the expiration of the consultation period any major changes considered to be necessary as a result of the consultation response will be reported back to the Licensing and Public Safety Committee for further consideration and approval.

To consider a report from the Director of People and Places (enclosed).

Members of the Committee considered a report from the Director of People and Places which sought Members approval to consolidate Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle licence conditions, to review the decision made by Members relating to luggage requirements for Private Hire vehicles and to remove the word ‘rear’ which was included in the conditions for both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles in error under the specification for vehicle type having to have at least two rear side doors for boarding.

It was proposed by Councillor Laura Lennox, seconded by Councillor Ralph Snape and subsequently unanimously RESOLVED – To approve:

• the removal of the luggage requirement conditions from the Hackney Carriage vehicle conditions
• the consolidated conditions as presented in appendix 1 and appendix 2 or the report
• that the word ‘rear’ be removed from the specification of vehicle type being required to have at least two rear side doors for boarding from both the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle conditions.

To received for information the enclosed report of the Director of People and Places (enclosed).

The Members of the Committee received a report for information from the Director of People and Places which detailed the performance of the Council’s licensing functions during quarter 2 which included:

• 5 suspensions notices issued to taxi drivers
• 15 defective notices issued to taxi drivers
• 1 prohibition notice being issued for defective tyres
• 43 compliance premises licence test
• 11 test purchases for alcohol – all of which passed
• 1 Premises Licence revoked
• 1 Premises Licence refused

All notices relating to taxis have been complied with.

A taxi driver lost his appeal at the Magistrates Court for the revocation of his Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver’s licence.

A decision at a recent Licensing Sub-Committee for a Private Hire driver’s licence became subject to an appeal at the Magistrates Court.  On appeal the Committee’s decision was overturned by the Court and the Council was ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

At the Chair’s invitation, Mr Oakes, Chairman of the Hackney Drivers Association thanked Members of the Committee and officers of the Council for working hard with the taxi trade consulting them on various revisions to Council policy and taking their view in to account when making decisions.