Agenda and minutes

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 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.

There were no members of the public present.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

Licensing Act Sub-Committee

3 January 2013

11 February 2013

11 March 2013

General Licensing Sub-Committee

1 February 2013

1 March 2013

9 April 2013

3 May 2013

8 May 2013

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings held on 3 January 2013, 11 February 2013 and 11 March 2013 and the General Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 1 February 2013, 1 March 2013, 9 April 2013, 3 May 2013 and 8 May 2013 be received.

To consider a proposed Charitable Collections Policy.

The Committee considered a report regarding a proposed Charitable Collection Policy.

All applications were currently processed in accordance with the policy or working practice adopted in each of the former Boroughs, as the Council did not have a Borough-wide Charitable Collections Policy.

RESOLVED - That the Licensing Team Leader be authorised to undertake formal consultation on the proposed Charitable Collections Policy, subject to any necessary amendments being made to the first bullet point in paragraph 6.14.1.

To consider proposed changes to the testing arrangements for applicants for Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licences.

The Committee considered a report regarding proposed changes to the testing of applicants for joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licences.

During the course of research, it had become evident that many Licensing Authorities required applicants for driver licences to undergo a more formal testing process than that in place in Cheshire East, including the attainment of a national accredited and recognised qualification.

RESOLVED

(a)       That all applications for the grant of a Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence received with effect from 1 July 2013 be accompanied by a Certificate confirming that the applicant has passed the BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the introduction to the role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver.

(b)       That any application received prior to 1 July 2013 be processed in accordance with existing procedures.

(c)       That the Licensing Team Leader be granted delegated authority to agree and sign Service Level Agreements with the relevant colleges and set out how the application process would work in practice.

(d)       That the Licensing Team Leader be requested to investigate the feasibility of conducting physical assessments of applicants’ driving skills and encouraging or requiring all licensed drivers to undertake the NVQ Certificate in Road Passenger Vehicle driving (Taxi and Private Hire Driver).