Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Magda Cullens and 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 by any of the Members in any of the agenda items.

Members of the Committee will consider representations received as an outcome of the consultation on the Annual Review of Licence Fees, which expired on 22 April 2010.

A copy of the report of the Director of People and Places is now attached for consideration.

The Director of People and Places submitted a report on the outcome of the statutory notification of the proposed licence fees to be applied by the Council for 2010/11 and seeking the Committee’s confirmation of the level of fees to  be introduced on 1 May 2010.

The Committee, at its last meeting on 10 March, had agreed in principle to adopt a revised schedule of licence fees and charges (which included a general increase of around 2% in the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire licence fees), subject to the required advertising and consideration of any subsequent representations.

The Committee were informed that only one representation had been received from the Hackney Drivers Association Limited at the close of the notification period.  A copy of the letter from the Association was attached to the Director’s report.  With the consent of the Chair, the Chairman of the Hackney Drivers Association, Mr C Oakes, who was present at the meeting, was allowed to explain the reasons for his Association’s objections to the projected increases.  Mr Oakes referred to the impact of the economic recession and the rising costs of fuel on the taxi trade and requested the Committee to reconsider its earlier decision.

A number of Members were sympathetic to the Association’s request, being aware that the Council had not increased the 2010/11 market fees.  The Committee was also reminded that the proposed licence fees increase had been taken into account in the compilation of the 2010/11 budget and that the consequencies of any budget alteration would need to be addressed by the Executive Cabinet.

Councillor Adrian Lowe proposed, and Councillor Marion Lowe seconded, that having regard to the Hackney Drivers Association’s representation, the projected 2% increase in licence fees be not implemented.

Councillor John Walker moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Judith Boothman, that the recommended increase be approved and adopted.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost (6:7), and it was subsequently RESOLVED that the licence fees and charges for 2010/11, as set out in Appendix A to the submitted report, be not increased.

The Chair, Councillor Keith Iddon, thanked the Committee Members and Officers for their support and assistance given to him during the past municipal year.

The Chair reminded the Members that Councillor Thomas McGowan was not seeking re-election at the forthcoming Borough election, and paid tribute to Councillor McGowan’s past 23 years of service on the Council and the Licensing Committee, in particular.   Councillor McGowan responded suitably and expressed his thanks to all the Councillors and Officers who had supported him during his long period of office.