To receive apologies for absence

30.1    Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nick Hignett and Paul Milner

30.2    There were no substitutions

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 December 2019 as a true record

Contact: Tim Ward (01743 257713)

31.1    The minutes of the meeting held on 4^th December 2019 had been circulated

31.2    RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Licencing Committee held on 4 December 2019 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman

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 10.00am on Monday 15 June 2020

32.1    The Chair reported that the following question had been received from Mr Phil Taylor

In January 2019, I wrote to SCC Licensing Services regarding the potential creation of a PHV monopoly with Go-Cars acquisition of both Vincent and Comet taxi companies.

Living in Westbury which as with other rural communities have a restricted bus service and therefore have to rely on PHV operators to travel to hospital appointments etc when access 

to own transport is not an option or unable to drive.

As my wife and myself are senior citizens, the lack of PHV competition is a grave concern as once a monopoly created, and no Authority control over PHV charges there will be price increases which cannot be controlled by either competition or regulation

After several attempts to expedite a response, I finally received one in May which outlined the current Government licencing regulation / policy for PHV and constraints local licensing authorities are under.

In January this year, the inevitable happened, when G0-Cars acquired ABC Taxis, effectively only leaving two other sizeable PHV operators within Shrewsbury. I would hope the committee would agree this is far from an ideal situation for both Shrewsbury and surrounding villages, residents and taxi drivers.

Understand from speaking with other taxi drivers there is now a good chance that Shrewsbury Taxis will also become part of the Go-Cars “empire”

I have contacted the Shropshire Star as I think this situation is a news worthy article. The local Shrewsbury Office told me they may consider publishing an article but appear to require backing of local councillors and MP’s as they do want to appear to be biased against Go-Cars. I understand their reluctance but as I suggested there is no need to name specific companies as it’s a case of “if the cap fits “. Licensing Services suggested I could also contact Strategic Licensing Committee and writing to local MP’s.  I have written to Daniel Kawczynski and last week and will write to Owen Patterson and Council Leader, Clive Wright to canvass support in campaigning /lobbying the relevant Government Departments. I think the general consensus is the 2015 Deregulation which allowed for cross border working is in main, responsible for the “mess” of PHV licensing and led to creation of a monopoly within Shrewsbury.

Understand there is a committee meeting scheduled for 11th March and would ask for this issue to be added to the Agenda

I have attached other communications relating to both my 2019 and this year’s attempt to raise awareness and gain support from both the media, local government and MPs.

            The response as follows was read out by the Chairman

The communications provided by Mr Phil Taylor relating to his attempts in 2019 and 2020 to raise awareness and gain support from the media, local government and MPs have been reviewed.  The information within these communications has been considered, together with relevant Council licensing data and information available from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).  This has collectively informed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

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

33.1    Members were 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

Report of Health Protection Team Manager – Regulatory Services Is attached

Contact Matthew Aldridge (01743 251700)

34.1    Members considered the report of the Health Protection Team Manager – Regulatory Services (copy attached to the signed minutes), detailing the exercise of delegated functions in respect of the safety of sports grounds, undertaken by the Public Protection service over the past year.

34.2    The Health Protection Team Manager reminded Members that there were three venues within Shropshire that held safety certificates – Shrewsbury Town Football Club, TNS Football Club Oswestry and Ludlow Racecourse and outlined the work undertaken under delegated powers in the past 12 months

34.3    RESOLVED:

            That the Strategic Licencing Committee note the activities in respect of safety of sports grounds at designated sports grounds and regulated stands in Shropshire.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702).

35.1    Members considered the report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager in relation to delegated powers to issue and amend licences. (Copy attached to the signed minutes).

35.2    The Transactional and Licencing Team Manager advised the meeting that due to the cancellation of the last scheduled meeting the information in the report covered a longer period than usual

35.3    In response to a query regarding the number of Temporary Event Notices issued the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager advised that this was around the normal number issued.  She commented that often notices were applied for well in advance of the date of the event.

35.4    RESOLVED:

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

To consider a resolution under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the proceedings in relation to the following items shall not be conducted in public on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Act

36.1    RESOLVED:

That under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the proceedings in relation to the following items shall not be conducted in public on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Act

Exempt report of the Public Protection Officer (Specialist) is attached, marked 4.

Contact Ross O’Neil on 0345 6789026

37.1    Members considered the exempt report of the Public Protection Officer (Specialist)

(The full version of minute 37 constitutes exempt information under Category 1 of paragraph 10.2 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules and has accordingly been withheld from publication.)