Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

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 27 September 2023.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 27 September 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Minutes of the following meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee sitting as a Panel:

-       20 October 2023 in respect of a Taxi Hearing

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee sitting as a Panel held on 20 October 2023 be received and noted.

The report invites Members to adopt the proposed scale of fees for licences, consents and registrations as set out in the Annex 1 to the report with effect from 1 April 2024.

Following a review of the existing fee structure, the report of the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive set out details of the proposed licensing fees and charges for 2024/25 in respect of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licences and Vehicle Licences, Administration Fees, Scrap Metal Dealers, Street Trading Consents, Film Classification, Sex Establishments, Boating Licences, Events Pre-Application Advice, Hypnotism Licence, Animal Welfare, Gambling and the licensing of premises and practitioners providing Acupuncture, Electrolysis and Ear Piercing, Cosmetic Piercing, Tattooing and Semi-permanent make up.

Members raised concern over the Type 1 licensing fees set by statute for which the Borough Council had no power to amend, with particular reference made to the statutory fees set under Licensing Act 2003 that had not been increased since 2005.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)        the proposed scale of fees for licences, consents and registrations, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be adopted with effect from the 1 April 2024, subject to the proposed fees and charges for pre-application advice in respect of larger events up to and above 1000 capacity, including cost of specialist officers and site visits, being amended to £500 for an initial meeting with normal hourly rates applying afterwards depending on officers’ time required, hourly rate to be advised by the officers at the initial meeting; and

(2)        the Cabinet Member for Community Services, in liaison with the Head of Licensing, Community Safety and Customer Service, write to the Central Government to seek an explanation as to why the statutory fees set under Licensing Act 2003 had not been reviewed/adjusted since the Regulations came into force in 2005.

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.