Shropshire Council website

This is the website of Shropshire Council

Contact information

E-mail

customer.service@shropshire.gov.uk

Telephone

0345 678 9000

Postal Address

Shropshire Council
Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6ND

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND. View directions

Contact: Emily Marshall  Committee Officer

Items
No. Item

14.

Welcome and Introductions from the Chairman

Minutes:

The Chairman gave a brief introduction and welcomed those present to the meeting.

 

15.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Steve Davenport, Andrew Davies, Nigel Hartin (Substitute Andrew Bannerman), Viv Parry and Robert Tindall.

16.

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

Minutes:

Members were reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

 

17.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 14th and 20th May 2015.

 

Please contact Shelley Davies (01743 257718).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meetings held on 14th and 20th May 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

18.

Public Question Time

To receive any questions, statements or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that nine public questions had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 and had been circulated to all members of the Strategic Licensing Committee (a copy of the report containing the detailed questions and the formal response is attached to the signed minutes):

 

Received from Mr Paul Merrifield, Director of Comet Cars in relation to Euro 5 and NCAP 5 Standards – copy attached to the signed minutes.

 

Received from Mr Roddy Doran, in relation to the Euro 5 requirements being extended to 2024 rather than 2022 to enable assist drivers to purchase vehicles and requesting that the rate card remain the same to achieve continuous business within a competitive market.  Copy attached to the signed minutes. 

 

Received from Mr M Khan on behalf of Asian community drivers, in relation to Euro Standards 3 and 4 and fare cards.  Copy attached to the signed minutes.

  

Received from Ms Tina Brookes and Mr Robbie Bruce of Access Cars Limited in relation to the requirement for new private hire vehicles to be NCAP5 and the impact this requirement was having upon the trade.  Copy attached to the signed minutes.

 

Received from Mr A. Alyas of County/Lakeside Cars in relation to the requirement for NCAP 5 rating and the suggestion that this should be reduced to 4 starts and also a rise in fares for the hackney carriage trade. Copy attached to the signed minutes.

 

Received from Mr Neil Gibbons of Station Cabs in relation to current tariff charges operating in Zone 4 (Shrewsbury and Atcham).  Copy attached to the signed minutes.

 

Received from Mr Mark Morris in relation to purchasing affordable vehicles.  Copy attached to the signed minutes.

 

Received from Mr Mark Higgins, a licenced taxi driver in relation to the implementation of the Councils ultra-low emissions and safety policy requesting further consultation with the trade.  Copy attached to the signed minutes. 

 

Mr Sven Evans, in relation to vehicle emissions testing.  Copy attached to the signed minutes.

 

The following response was provided at the meeting:

 

Before responding to the specific concerns raised within the submissions, the Council wishes to make it clear that the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy was developed over a twelve month period with extensive informal and formal consultation with the trade and other key stakeholders.  This included face to face forums and two periods of formal consultation, which also included a face to face opportunity to further discuss the proposals.  Full consideration was given to a large amount of verbal and written feedback prior to the formal adoption of the policy; this included making specific amendments to reduce the standards that had to be achieved and providing an extension to the timeframe by which proprietors had to comply.  The Council does not accept that the policy came ‘out of the blue, without dialogue’.

 

Having given due consideration to the content of the submissions, it is clear that there is a single overarching concern, namely certain elements (Euro Emission Standards, NCAP  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Gambling Act 2005 - Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Report of the Senior Commissioner (Public Protection) is attached, marked 6.

 

Contact: Frances Darling (0345 678 9026)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Senior Commissioner for Business Support & Regulatory Services in relation to the Council’s Gambling Act 2005 draft policy statement. (Copy attached to the signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED:

1.    That the draft Gambling Act 2005 policy statement as set out in Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report be agreed

 

2.    That the Head of Business Support and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Licensing Committee, be instructed to undertake a process of consultation and to prepare a final draft of the policy statement for further consideration by the Strategic Licensing Committee no later than 6 January 2016.

 

 

20.

Hackney Carriage Fares - Zone 4 (Shrewsbury and Atcham) pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Report of the Team Manager Operational Community Safety is attached, marked 7.

 

Contact Mandy Beever (0345 678 9026)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager – Operational Community Safety in relation to hackney carriage fares, Zone 4 (Shrewsbury and Atcham). (Copy attached to the signed minutes).

 

During the ensuing debate, members expressed concerns at the operation of two fare zones within the County, and having heard the concerns of the trade earlier in the meeting with regards to the cost of purchasing new vehicles and other financial pressures the trade were facing, to proceed with the consultation as detailed in the officer’s recommendations would be a retrograde step. The introduction of a separate fare for Zone 4 could also mean that other changes were then required. 

 

RESOLVED:

That no further action be taken in respect of fares for Zone 4.

21.

Exercise of Delegated Powers pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Report of the Team Manager Operational Community Safety is attached, marked 8.

 

Contact Mandy Beever (0345 678 9026)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager – Operational Community Safety in relation to delegated powers to issue and amend licences. (Copy attached to the signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED:

That the report of the Team Manager – Operational and Community Safety be noted.

 

22.

Records of Proceedings - Licensing Act Sub-Committee pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Copies of the records of proceedings of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings from March 2015 to August 2015 are attached for the Committee’s information.

 

·         16th March 2015

·         13th April 2015

·         11th May 2015

·         18th May 2015

·         13th July 2015

 

 

Contact: Emily Marshall/Shelley Davies (01743 257717 or 257718)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The records of proceedings of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings from March 2015 to August 2015 were received by Members (Copies attached to the signed minutes).

 

RESOLVED:

That the records of proceedings of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings from March 2015 to August 2015 be noted.

 

 

23.

Date of Next Meeting

To confirm that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee will be held on Wednesday, 6th January 2015 in the Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

Minutes:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee would be held on Wednesday, 6th January 2016 in the Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall.

 

 

Print this page

Back to top