Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 2 October 2018

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 2 October 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Consideration of the outcome of consultation on the Taxi Policy with all references to the probationary driver licence removed.

Further to Minute LA 18/105, the report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer gave details of the outcome of the consultation on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy with all references to the probationary driver licence removed.  This included four responses from the Licensing team reflecting the change in delegations from the recently amended Constitution and the need to have regard to new guidelines published by the Institute of Licensing.  Consideration was given to the revised Policy containing the proposed changes.

RECOMMENDED:  That the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy set out at Annex 1 to the report be approved by the Council.

*Referred to Council

Consideration of the proposed scale of fees for licences, consents and registrations for 2019/20.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer presented proposed fees and charges for 2019/20 in respect of hackney carriage and private hire licences, pleasure boats and boatmen, scrap metal dealers, animal welfare licences, street trading consents, sex establishments and acupuncture/tattooing.

It was noted that the provisions of the European Union Services Directive had been taken into account in setting the fees, together with a recent judgment of the Supreme Court which clarified the type of costs that could properly be covered.  Whilst taxi licensing was exempt from this ruling, Annex 2 to the report set out details of the fee model showing officer cost and time in validating, processing, issuing and enforcement cost where applicable.

It was noted that animal welfare licence applications were being monitored and an update would be presented to the next meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the proposed scale of fees for licences, consents and registrations, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be adopted with effect from 1 April 2019.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.