To receive apolgies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Jones, Mark Jones, Harry Taylor (Substitute Pam Moseley).

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4^th October 2017.

Contact: Shelley Davies (01743 257718)

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 4^th October 2017 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any public questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is Friday 8^th December 2017.

There were no public questions or petitions received.

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.

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. 

Report of the Trading Standards & Licensing Operations Manager is attached, marked 5.

Contact: Frances Darling (01743 251715)

Consideration was given to the report of the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager in relation to the proposed revised fees for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 for licences and licensing related activities. 

In response to a question regarding out of area taxi applications, the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager explained that the impact of out of area taxi licensing was a recognised issue of concern, particularly in the areas of enforcement and maintaining a sufficiently robust level of standards.  The Operations Manager also explained that the concerns were shared by the Local Government Association and that local authorities across the country and the LGA were lobbying at a national level to get the Government to make changes to the law.  However there were currently no immediate indications that the changes required would be forthcoming. 

In response to a question, the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager provided an update on the digital transformation programme and the improvements that it would mean for Licensing.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee notes the statutory fees that Shropshire Council is required to charge in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 as set out in Appendix A, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 as set out in Appendix B and in accordance with explosives and fireworks legislation as set out in Appendix C and recommends that the authority implements these fees (or if subject to statutory amendment, the relevant amended fees) on the 1 April 2018 and instructs the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager to arrange for the fees to be included in the 2018/19 annual fees and charges reports that are presented to Cabinet and Council and further instructs the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager to implement, as appropriate, any other statutory fees that may be brought into force during the 2018/19 financial year and to publish all relevant statutory fees on the licensing pages of the Council’s website as soon as is practicable. 

2.    That the Committee implements, with any necessary modification and with effect from 1 April 2018, the proposed fees as set out in Appendices D, E, F and G that relate to those licences and licensing related activities where the authority has the discretion to determine the fees and instructs the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager to arrange for the fees to be included in the 2018/19 annual fees and charges reports that are presented to Cabinet and Council and further instructs the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager to publish the fees on the licensing pages of the Council’s website as soon as is practicable. 

3.    That the Committee proposes to vary the fees relevant to driver, hackney carriage, private hire vehicle and operator licences as set out in Appendix F, with any necessary modification, and instructs the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager, in accordance with the provisions of Section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, to publish in the Shropshire Star a notice setting out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Manager is attached, marked 6.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

Councillor David Vasmer left the meeting at this point. 

Consideration was given to the Transactional and Licensing Team Leader in respect of the adoption of Street Trading Policy under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.   

RESOLVED:

That the Committee agrees, with any necessary modifications, that the proposed Street Trading Policy 2018 to 2023, as set out in Appendix A,is adopted by the Council and implemented with effect from 1 April 2018.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Manager is attached, marked 7.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

Consideration was given to the report of the Transactional and Licensing Manager in relation to delegated powers to issue and amend licences.   (Copy attached to the signed minutes)

The Chairman thanked the Transactional and Licensing Manager and her team for their work in this area. 

RESOLVED:

That the report of the Transactional and Licensing Manager be noted. 

To note the records of proceedings of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings for May to September 2017.

Minutes of the following meetings are attached for the Committees information:

·         13^th September 2017

·         26^th September 2017

·         2^nd November 2017

Contact: Shelley Davies (01743 257718)

The records of proceedings of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings from September 2017 to November 2017 were received by Members. (Copy attached to the signed minutes). 

RESOLVED:

That the records of proceedings of the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meetings from September 2017 to November 2017 be noted.

An opportunity for Members to identify additional matters that ought to be brought before the Committee for consideration at future meetings.

The Committee were given the opportunity to identify additional matters that ought to be brought before the Committee for consideration.

The following progress reports were suggested:

·  An update on digital transformation;

·  Scrap metal dealers; and

·  Pre-application advice – the introduction of a similar system to planning. 

RESOLVED:

          That the requests for updates be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee will be held on Wednesday, 7^th March 2018 in the Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

RESOLVED:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee would be held on Wednesday, 7^th March 2018.