Agenda and minutes

In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman it was proposed by Councillor Mrs Anderson, seconded by Councillor Mrs Bates and

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 14.2.6, Councillor Mrs Kemp be elected to preside over the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

There were no declarations of interest made 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 3 December 2014

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 3 December 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

18 February 2015

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meetings of the Licensing and Appeals Committee, sitting as a Panel, held on 18 February 2015 be received and noted.  

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer outlined the proposed licence conditions to be applied to homeboarding of dogs and cats and to dog day care establishments.  Members expressed concern about whether the proposed regime was mandatory, the lack of clarity of the general conditions, the restrictions applied to the age, number and mixture of cats with dogs, the means of demonstrating ‘competence’, the training regime, the assessment of a ‘fit and proper person’ to supervise such establishments and the specific requirements of the cleaning regime, disease control and vaccination of dogs and cats.  Members were particularly concerned that the imposition of such stringent conditions would discourage homeowners from providing this type of service.  In the absence of a representative of the Environmental Health Service to answer the specific questions raised, it was requested that a further report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee clarifying concerns raised and providing an explanation for the application of the proposed conditions. 

RECOMMENDED:  That a further report be submitted to the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee to be held on 23 June 2015. 

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of the public consultation to be undertaken between 1 April and 27 May 2015 in respect of wheelchair accessibility and the display of roof signs, tax discs and advertising on hackney carriage and private hire vehicles licensed by the Borough Council.  The report also outlined an amendment to the number of points imposed on Hackney Carriage Drivers refusing a short distance fare. 

RESOLVED:  That the proposed amendments to Section 4 – Overview and Section 9 – Vehicle Conditions of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, as set out in the report, form the basis of the public consultation to be undertaken between 1 April and 27 May 2015. 

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of the further deregulation of live music and recorded music under the Legislative Reform (Entertainment Licensing) Order 2014 which would come into effect on 6 April 2015. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

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.