Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Edwardes, Councillor S Pochin and Councillor N 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 received.

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.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th January 2023 be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

Licensing Act Sub-Committee

6 December 2022

12 December 2022

9 January 2023

RESOLVED:

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

Licensing Act Sub Committee

6 December 2022

12 December 2022

9 January 2023

To consider the proposed Regulatory Services and Health Mobile Homes Fees and Charges Policy 2023-2024.

The committee received a report from the Commercial Services Team Leader that detailed the proposed Mobile Homes Fees and Charges Policy for 2023 – 2024. In accordance with the Mobile Homes Act 2013 (MHA13), which amended the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, the Council is permitted to charge a fee for administering the statutory licensing function for residential caravan sites. The Fees and Charges Policy must be reviewed annually to reflect the cost of administering the licensing function.

It was reported that there would be no alteration to the proposed fees and charges for 2023 – 2024 as the caravan site licensing function is being updated to streamline services with development of updated standard site licence conditions, review of polices and procedures and integration of updated software systems. Existing charges were considered suitable to cover current service provision.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed Regulatory Services and Health Mobile Homes Fees and Charges Policy 2023 - 2024 as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

To consider the new fee policy for the purpose of the Fit and Proper person assessment and determination process for implementation from 1 April 2023.

The committee received a report from the Senior Enforcement Officer that detailed the proposed introduction of a Fit and Proper Persons test for owners of residential mobile home sites, or their appointed manager.

In accordance with the Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be a Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 the Council is required to have a policy in place and are permitted to charge a fee for the administrative test, but in order to so must develop and publish a fees policy which incorporates the costs involved in the assessment, determination and monitoring process.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the Licensing Committee approve the new fee policy for the purpose of the Fit and Proper person assessment and determination process for implementation from 1 April 2023.

(b)  That the Licensing Committee agree that in future years, the fees for the Fit and Proper Person assessment be included in the general Mobile Homes and Fees Charges Policy.