Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Suite, Gibson Building, Kings Hill, West Malling

Contact: Committee Services  Email: committee.services@tmbc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

PART 1 - PUBLIC

LA 15/86

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 12 KB

Minutes:

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

LA 15/87

Minutes pdf icon PDF 49 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 30 June 2015

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 30 June 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

LA 15/88

Minutes of Panel pdf icon PDF 51 KB

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

 

29 July 2015

26 August 2015

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meetings of the Licensing and Appeals Committee sitting as a Panel held on 29 July and 26 August 2015 be received and noted.  

Matters for recommendation to the Council

LA 15/89

Gambling Act 2005 - Revised Statement of Policy pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer reminded Members that Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 required that Licensing Authorities prepare and publish a statement of principles to be applied in exercising their functions under the Act over a three year period.  Members noted that the Council’s current Statement of Principles for the Gambling Act 2005 was due to expire on 14 January 2016 and the report set out details of the matters to be taken into account during the consultation period prior to the publication of a revised Statement of Policy.  The Director of Central Services advised that it would not be possible to take the latest Gambling Commission guidance into account within the proposed timescale and he set out details of revisions to the existing policy which would allow its reinstatement with effect from January 2016. 

 

RECOMMENDED:  That, subject to no adverse comments being received during the consultation period and to minimal changes to ensure accuracy, the Council re-adopt the existing version of the policy for a period of 3 years with effect from 14 January 2016. 

Decisions taken under Delegated Powers in accordance with Paragraph 3, Part 3 of the Constitution

LA 15/90

Proposed Licence Conditions for the Home Boarding of Dogs and Cats and Dog Day Care Establishments pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of the proposed licensing conditions to be applied in respect of the home boarding of cats and dogs.  The Committee was reminded that Section 1 of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 required that any person keeping a boarding establishment must be licensed by the Local Authority.  The Director of Central Services indicated that, due to the rise in popularity of home boarding arrangements, a request to be licensed had been received from a home boarder.  The report advised that existing animal boarding licence conditions were not wholly suited to the home boarding environment and set out proposed conditions based on the Local Government Regulation and British Kennel and Cattery Association model conditions which would ensure that animal welfare was maintained. 

 

In response to concerns about the stringent nature of the proposed conditions the Director of Central Services advised that prospective business owners and operators had been consulted and had acknowledged that this was a reasonable approach.  Members remained concerned and sought clarification on whether the licence and conditions would be mandatory, the enforceability of the licensing regime, the level of fees to be applied and the ability to tailor standard conditions to individual premises. 

 

RESOLVED:  That consideration of the licence conditions to be applied for the Home Boarding of Dogs and Cats and Dog Day Care Establishments be deferred for further clarification of the matters identified by Members. 

Matters submitted for Information

LA 15/91

Taxi Safeguarding Training pdf icon PDF 60 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of a training package for taxi and private hire operators, managers, supervisors and drivers, developed with Kent Police and the Kent Safeguarding Children Board to provide training and information on “Safeguarding Children Abused through Sexual Exploitation”.  The Committee commended all staff across the Authority for the development of an excellent initiative and requested that details of the training sessions be circulated to Members.  

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

LA 15/92

Exclusion of Press and Public pdf icon PDF 28 KB

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.

Minutes:

There were no items considered in private.