Agenda and minutes

Councillor M Armiger substituted for Councillor T Mitchell; Councillor T Gosling substituted for Councillor S Armitage; Councillor C O’Sullivan substituted for Councillor H Rayner; Councillor D Wells substituted for Cllr C Sherwood; and Councillor M Kirk sent his apologies.

There were no declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Personal or Personal and Prejudicial interests.

No lobbying was declared.

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of thiscommittee held on 17 March 2022 having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing (Activities) Sub-Committee held on 24 March, 19 April and 6 May 2022 be received.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee held on 17 March 2022 be received.

Thursday 22 September 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 3 November 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 19 January 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 16 March 2023 at 10:00am

Resolved – That dates and times of future meetings of the committee be held at 10.00am on –

Thursday 22 September 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 3 November 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 19 January 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 16 March 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 8 September 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 13 October 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 10 November 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 1 December 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 12 January 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 2 February 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 2 March 2023 at 10:00am

Resolved – That dates and times of future meetings of the sub-committee be held at 10.00am on –

Thursday 8 September 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 13 October 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 10 November 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 1 December 2022 at 10:00am

Thursday 12 January 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 2 February 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday 2 March 2023 at 10:00am

Resolved – That a Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee be appointed comprising five members of the Licensing Committee (three Conservative and two Labour members) Councillors K Vickers (Chairman), P Vickers (Vice-Chair), Clark, Armitage and Rayner.

Resolved – That a Licensing (Activities) Sub-Committee comprising three members (politically balanced) drawn from the 10 members of the Licensing Committee be appointed (Membership of the sub-committee to deal with individual cases to be appointed as required from eligible members).

The Director: Governance and Communities referred to the recent report of Council for the Constitutional Review of Committees Terms of Reference, which included the Licensing Committees responsibilities of functions. The committee were reminded of the content and of any changes, if any.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The Director: Economy and Environment informed the Committee that a report to review the licensing fees was due to be submitted at the next Licensing Committee for the members consideration. 

Questions were raised regarding the table of fares for Hackney Carriages. The Director informed the committee that due to an increase in fuel costs representations were received from the taxi trade to consider an increase.   

Resolved – That the position be noted.

The Director: Economy and Environment informed the Committee that the Cumulative Impact Zone Policy was due to be submitted in September for approval. The requirements of the policy was evidence based and when the policy is reviewed there needs to be sufficient evidence to support the future need of the policy. Currently no feedback had been provided following consultation. The consultation period had been extended; however, the committee were informed that if no evidence was submitted then an option would be removal of the policy.

Questions were raised by the Chairman to which the Director: Economy and Environment responded.

Resolved – That the position be noted.

The Director: Economy and Environment made a suggestion to the committee to introduce a report to be presented at each Licensing Committee detailing enforcement activities and outcomes conducted by Licensing Officers.

Enforcement could be carried out in many ways; one may be by targeted enforcement following complaints and intelligence and the other by proactive programmed visits that ensured compliance with licensed premises.

Officers often worked outside normal office hours, either in pairs or in partnership with other agencies, such as the Police, Immigration and other Local Authority Enforcement Teams.

Following the Directors introduction, the Chairman facilitated a discussion amongst the committee, who expressed a desire to have this in place.

Resolved – That the introduction of an Enforcement Report be agreed.

The Director: Economy and Environment informed the Committee that there was now a National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations, known as NR3. It was a mechanism for licensing authorities to share details of individuals who have had a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Drivers licence revoked, or an application for one refused.

NR3 had been developed to improve public safety and confidence in HC and PHV licensing. There had been numerous high profile cases where drivers who had been refused licences or had a licence revoked in one area had gone to another area and received a licence in that area by failing to disclose their previous history.

This was why the initiative had been widely supported by reputable drivers and firms, as it would provide a mechanism for ensuring information about refusals and revocations been shared between all licensing authorities in a safe and secure way.

Licensing authorities would then search the register when they are processing new applications or renewals. Where an authority found a match for their applicant on NR3, they would contact the licensing authority that recorded the entry to seek more information, which, if shared, would then be used to help reach a decision on the application.

Resolved – That the information be noted.

The Director: Governance and Partnerships informed the Committee that no appeals against decisions of the Licensing (Activities) Sub-Committee or Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee had been submitted to the Magistrates Court for consideration.

There were no urgent items for consideration by the Committee.