Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Barber, Councillor Fletcher, Councillor Macfarlane, Councillor J Smith, Councillor Pochin and Councillor Wylie.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with paragraph 2.32 of the Committee Procedural Rules and Appendix 7 to the Rules a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.  Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no public speakers.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2022 be approved as a

correct record.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

Licensing Act Sub-Committee

26 September 2022

3 October 2022

5 October 2022

4 November 2022

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the following sub-committee meetings be received:

26 September 2022

3 October 2022

5 October 2022

4 November 2022

To review the licensing fees and charges for the issuing and renewal of licenses, consents, and permits issued by the Licensing Team with effect from April 2023.

Kim Evans, Licensing Team Leader attended the meeting and presented the item to the Committee.

The Committee were advised that Appendix 1 outlined the Licensing Fees and Charges for the issuing and renewal of licenses, consents and permits issued with effect from April 2023.

Some fees were set by statute or regulations, while others could be set by Local Authorities in order to cover the cost of administration, compliance and some elements of enforcement; Locally Set Fees. Where the Council had the discretion to set fees, they were subject to review by the Licensing Team and confirmation by the Licensing Committee.

New fees outlined in the report included:

-       Accident replacement vehicle licence - This had been amended following the change of policy which had been agreed in the previous year. It was hoped that this would make the accident replacement process swifter for licence holders and would include the test fee.

-       Safeguarding Training fee for licence holders – Colleagues in the Safeguarding Board would be providing free training throughout 2023 for new and existing drivers. The cost for following years was unknown, however this was not expected to exceed £50.

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.    the fees payable as set out in appendix 1 be approved.

2.    the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing fees in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions be published by the Licensing Team Leader.

3.    delegated authority be given to the Head of Regulatory Services to consider any objections received and determine the final fees payable in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing Committee.