Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors M Hardy and G Wait.

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 8 September 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

Licensing Act Sub-Committee

18 September 2014

15 October 2014

24 October 2014

General Licensing Sub-Committee

19 September 2014

10 October 2014

4 November 2014

19 December 2014

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings held on 18 September 2014, 15 October 2014 and 24 October 2014, and the General Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 19 September 2014, 10 October 2014, 4 November 2014 and 19 December 2014 be received, subject to the following amendments:

That in minutes 33, 47, 48 and 49 of the General Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 19 September and 4 November 2014 ‘made representatives’ be amended to read ‘made representations’.

To consider the proposed fees and charges for 2015/2016.

The Committee considered a report regarding the proposed licensing fees and charges for the issuing and renewal of licenses, consents and permits issued by the Licensing Team for 2015/2016.

It was proposed to introduce a retest fee in respect of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles, as an increase in the number of vehicles being licensed and a failure rate of approximately 50% had resulted in a budgetary pressure which the licensing service was unable to absorb.

RESOLVED

(a) That the Scale of Fees and Charges for 2015/2016, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

(b) That the Licensing Team Leader be requested to review the requirements for the retesting of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.