Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors D Bebbington, T Dean and E Wardlaw.

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 7 November 2016.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

Licensing Act Sub-Committee

14 December 2016

9 January 2017

General Licensing Sub-Committee

28 October 2016

1 December 2016

16 December 2016

27 January 2017

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the following meetings be received:

(a)  Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings held on:

14 December 2016

9 January 2017

(b)  General Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on:

28 October 2016

1 December 2016

16 December 2016

27 January 2017

To consider a proposed procedure for undertaking appeal hearings in accordance with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

The Committee considered a report regarding a proposed procedure for hearings in accordance with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

If the Council was minded to refuse an application for a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence, the applicant had a right of appeal to the General Licensing Sub-Committee. In order for the hearing to be heard in a fair manner, the Council must have agreed the procedure for such hearings.

RESOLVED –That the procedure for undertaking appeal hearings in accordance with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

To consider the proposed Mobile Homes Act 2013 Fees and Charges Policy for 2017-18.

The Committee considered a report regarding the proposed Regulatory Services and Health Mobile Homes Act 2013 Fees and Charges Policy 2017-18.

In accordance with the Mobile Homes Act 2013, the Council was permitted to charge a fee for administering the statutory licensing function for residential caravan sites.  It was also permitted to set fees for other functions such as maintaining a register of site rules and transferring and amending licences.

The Council was only able to set fees on a ‘cost recovery’ basis, and as part of setting the fees it was required to have a Fees and Charges Policy in place for mobile homes, which was reviewed annually in order to ensure that the fees reflected the cost of administering the licensing function.

RESOLVED - That the Regulatory Services and Health Mobile Homes Act 2013 Fees and Charges Policy 2017-18, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

To consider any objections following the publication of the Council’s Taxi Licensing Fees.

The Committee considered a report regarding a review of taxi licensing fees and charges for the financial year 2017/2018.

On 7 November 2016, the Committee had determined to vary the Council’s fees in relation to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing.  In accordance with the relevant legislative provisions, the required notices had been published in several local papers, and notices had been placed at the Council’s principal office and at the Customer Contact Centres.

The Licensing Team Leader reported that no objections had been received.

RESOLVED –That it be noted that the taxi licensing fees and charges as set out in Appendix A to the report will come into effect on 1 April 2017.

To consider proposed amendments to the current designation of streets for the purposes of regulating street trading.

The Committee considered a report regarding proposed amendments to the current designation of streets for the purposes of regulating street trading.

The Licensing Team had consulted between 15 September 2016 and 27 October 2016 and no relevant consultation responses had been received.

Following publication of the statutory notices, the Committee would be required to consider any objections received and determine whether or not to pass a resolution changing the street trading designations.

RESOLVED

(a) That it be confirmed that the Council intends to designate the streets identified in Appendix A to the report for the purposes of Street Trading.

(b) That the Licensing Team Leader be authorised to follow any necessary statutory procedures, including the publication of the required notices.