To receive apolgies for absence

33.1    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Vivienne Parry

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record

34.1    The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2021 had been circulated

34.2    RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Strategic Licencing Committee held on 8 December 2021 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 5.00pm on Thursday 3 March 2022

35.1    There were no public questions

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

36.1    Members were reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered

36.2    There were no declarations made

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

37.1    Members received the report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager which set out an objection in respect of the variations proposed to the fees in relation to driver, hackney carriage, private hire vehicle and operator licences.

37.2    The Transactional and Licensing Team Manager reminded Members that the Council had a duty to publish the proposed fees when setting or revising hackney carriage, private hire vehicles and operators’ licence fees, to allow for any objections to be submitted for further consideration.  She advised that following the publication one objection was received regarding the proposed fees for a Private Hire Operators Licence for less than 30 vehicles and the fee for a vehicle licence transfer, and set out the options available to the Committee

37.3    In response to a question the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager confirmed that in addition to the advert in the Shropshire Star which was required by law, the consultation had been advertised on the Council website and all licence holders whose email was on file had been contacted directly.

37.4    In response to a question regarding the number of transfers carried out the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager advised the meeting that this varied due to a large number of factors.

37.5    A Member asked whether the representative of the objector was present.  It was confirmed that he had been advised of the meeting.  The Solicitor reminded Members that under the Council’s public speaking he could only ask a question or present a petition.

37.6    RESOLVED

That the Committee, in accordance with the provisions of Section 70 (5) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, having considered the objection received, together with associated officer comments, as set out in Appendix A, following the legally prescribed objection process that was undertaken in respect of the variations proposed to the fees in relation to  driver, hackney carriage, private hire vehicle and operator licences agrees to implement the variations proposed to the fees as set out in Appendix B with effect from 1 April 2022, this being a date not later than 2 months after the 10 February 2022.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

38.1    Members received the report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager which gave details of the licences issued and the variations that have been made under delegated powers between 1 November 2021 and the 28 February 2022 and a summary of applications considered by the Committee.

38.2    The Transactional and Licensing Team Manager reminded Members that the report was brought to each meeting of the committee and that it updated them on the number and types of licences that had been issued since the last meeting.

38.3    A Member queried the relatively high number of events around driver licences.  The Transactional and Licensing Team Manager explained that during the pandemic a number of additional conditions had been applied to licences and that and exercise had been carried out to check on compliance with these conditions which had resulted in the higher figures quoted.

38.4    RESOLVED:

That Members note the position as set out in the report

To note that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee will be held on 22 June 2022 at 10.00am

39.1    Members noted that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee would be held on 22 June 2022 at 10.00am