Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lanie Shears.

The Chair welcomed Councillor James Griggs and Councillor Stacy Seales to the Committee.

The Chair noted that Denise Westwood, Assistant FCilex, was leaving the Council and expressed his thanks for all of the support that Denise had provided the Committee over the recent years.

The Chair also welcome Julie Galvin, Legal Service Manager, and noted that she would be supporting the Committee going forward.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

None.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2022 are agreed and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

None.

None.

Michael Pitt, Assistant Director Environment, noted that the Health and Safety Enforcement Plan would be added to the Work Plan.

RESOLVED that the work plan was noted.

The Committee received a report summarising the decisions taken by the Licensing and Regulatory Sub Committees in 2021/22.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report.

The Committee received a report on the Licensing Team Enforcement Activity, service update and licensing procedures for 2021/22.

RESOLVED that:

A     Members note the enforcement activity from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

carried out by the Licensing Team.

B     Members note the Service Delivery updates for 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

C     Members note the current development of future application procedures to allow online applications for Taxi & Private Hire Licensing and Alcohol & Entertainment Licensing.

D     To recommend to Full Council the proposal to allow the minor variation process to add off-sales to a premises licence that currently only has provision for on-sales. This shall be viewed on a case by case basis, particularly for premises that have made use of the easement during the last two years.

The Committee received a report and letter from the Home Office on drink spiking.

RESOLVED that Members note the letter from the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Probation addressed to the Licensing Committee.

The Committee received an update report on the street drinking reduction scheme.

The Committee noted that the Licensing Team would be completing their second premises visits within the next couple of weeks. The Chair requested an update on these visits once they had taken place.

RESOLVED that:

A     The Licensing Committee note the content of the report.

B     A further report to be presented to the Licensing Committee to update on the

Street Drinking Reduction scheme in the Town Centre.

The Committee received a report on the review of the Hackney Carriage tariff.

RESOLVED that:

A     The Licensing Committee recommend to the next Cabinet meeting on 21 July 2022 that consultation as set out in the report be commenced, and the Hackney Carriage Tariff Schedule, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be adopted for implementation in the absence of objections.

B     Subject to A, and in the absence of objections, the Assistant Director Environment be authorised to take the necessary steps as set out in the report to implement the tariff changes with effect from 12 August 2022.

C     Subject to A, should any objections to the proposed tariff be received during the consultation period, implementation of the proposed Hackney Carriage Tariff Schedule be deferred pending consideration of objections at the forthcoming meeting of this Committee on 6 September 2022, and recommendation to the next available meeting of Cabinet.

The Committee received a report on the introduction of an English language proficiency assessment for taxi and private hire drivers.

It was agreed that recommendation A would be amended to ensure that a full Equality Impact Assessment was completed prior to recommendation to Full Council.

RESOLVED that:

A     The Licensing Committee recommends, subject to a full Equality Impact Assessment, to Full Council that new applicants for hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licenses be required to complete an English Language Proficiency test or to show suitable qualification in the use of English.

B     Qualifications set out in Appendix A are to be updated from time to time by the Licensing team and are to be deemed suitable for the purposes of recommendation A.

C     Existing Licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers shall not routinely be subject to English Language Proficiency assessment. However, authority shall be delegated to the Assistant Director Environment to require any driver to attend English Language Proficiency assessment should it appear necessary whether due to any complaint or otherwise.

D     The English Language Proficiency assessment provided by Green Penny as set out at paragraphs 8 to 18 of the report be deemed suitable for the purposes of recommendation A: other assessment tests may be deemed suitable by the Licensing team on consultation with representatives of the licensed trades.

Any references arising from meetings held after the publication of this agenda will be circulated separately.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.