Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35, 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.

In accordance with Procedure Rules 11 and 35, Mr Gillick, Mr Stennett and Mr Wilcock addressed the Committee in relation to Item 6: Hackney Carriage Tariffs.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

Licensing Act Sub-Committee

9 January 2012

3 February 2012

6 February 2012

General Licensing Sub-Committee

31 January 2012

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings held on 9 January 2012, 3 February 2012 and 6 February 2012 and the General Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on 31 January 2012 be received.

To consider a report on the objections received in relation to the proposed variation of the hackney carriage table of fares in hackney carriage zones 1 (Congleton) and 3 (Macclesfield), and to determine whether the variation should come into force either with or without modifications.

The Committee considered a report regarding the harmonisation of the ‘table of fares’ across the three hackney carriage zones within the Borough.

At its meeting on 16 January 2012, the Committee had resolved that (a) subject to consultation, the existing tariffs in the Congleton and Macclesfield hackney carriage zones be harmonised with those of the Crewe and Nantwich zone; and (b) that the Borough Solicitor, or officer acting on her behalf, be authorised to publish the relevant notices of variation, making provision for any objections to be submitted within the statutory consultation period of fourteen days.

During the statutory consultation period, the Council had received 18 individual objections to the proposed variations, two petitions with a total of 201 signatures from the Congleton zone, and one petition from the Macclesfield zone with 152 signatures.  The matter had therefore been referred back to the Committee for determination.

RESOLVED

(a)  That, following discussion between officers and representatives of the trade in each of the hackney carriage zones, the Head of Community Services be requested to produce a further report making recommendations in relation to proposed variations to the 'tables of fares', including recommendations relating to an equitable method of harmonising the tables of fares.

(b)  That the Head of Community Services be requested to submit an interim report on progress for consideration by the Committee at its next meeting.