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 29 November 2023.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 28 November 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There are no Minutes of the Licensing and Appeals Committee, sitting as a Panel, to be reported.

There were no minutes of the Licensing and Appeals Committee, sitting as a Panel.

The report seeks approval of the proposed changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Policy.

The report of the Interim Chief Executive provided the results of the consultation on proposed changes to the Council’s Scrap Metal Dealers Policy 2024-29.  The consultation ran from 9 October 2023 to 30 November 2023, during which no representations were received. 

RECOMMENDED*: That the proposed changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Policy 2024-2029, be approved.

*Recommended to Council

The report invites Members to consider the request from the Hackney Carriage and Dual drivers for an Unmet Demand Survey to be undertaken and for the results of the survey to be discussed at a future meeting.

The report of the Interim Chief Executive asked Members to consider the request from the Hackney Carriage and Dual drivers for an Unmet Demand Survey to be undertaken and that the results of the survey be discussed at a future meeting.

Over the last few years, the number of licensed hackney carriage vehicles working out of Tonbridge Waterloo rank had grown resulting in very long waiting times whilst queuing for a fare.   The situation at the rank was further exacerbated by the economic climate where drivers were working longer hours.

Before restricting the number of hackney carriage vehicles to be licensed, a Licensing Authority must commission a detailed robust survey.  The cost of the survey would result in an additional fee being added to all Hackney Carriage Vehicle, Hackney Carriage Drivers and Dual driver applications. 

Attention was brought to the low percentage of responses received to the survey which was carried out to gauge opinion from the current licensed hackney carriage drivers and dual badge holders on whether they would like an Unmet Demand Survey to be undertaken. 

RESOLVED: That an Unmet Demand Survey for Hackney Carriage Vehicles not be undertaken.

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.