To receive apologies for absence

22.1    Apologies were received from Councillor Peter Broomhall, Garry Burchett and David Evans.

22.2    Councillor Joyce Barrow substituted for Councillor Burchett

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

23.1    The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024 had been circulated.

23.2    RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Licencing Committee held on 11 January 2024 be agreed 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  Friday 8 March 2024

24.1    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.

25.1    There were no interests declared

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

26.1    Members received the report of the Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager which set out the objections to be considered by the Strategic Licensing Committee in respect of the variations proposed to the fees in relation to driver, hackney carriage, private hire vehicle and operator licences.

26.2    The Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager reminded Members that under Section 70 of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Council had a duty when setting or revising hackney carriage, private hire vehicles and operators’ licence fees, to publish the proposed fees to allow for any objections to be submitted for further consideration.  She advised the meeting that following the agreement of the Fees and Charges at the October meeting of the Committee a consultation was undertaken in January 2024 and 4 objections were received, and that as there were no specific proposals in the representations it was not proposed to make any amendments to the proposals agreed.

26.3    A Member commented that two of the representations referred to increases in inflation and the cost of living both of which affected the Council as well.

26.4    RESOLVED:

            That the Committee, in accordance with the provisions of Section 70 (5) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, having considered the objections 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 and agrees, with any further modifications, to implement the variations proposed to the fees as set out in Appendix B with effect from 1 April 2024, this being a date not later than 2 months after the 5 February 2024.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

27.1    Members received the report of the Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager which sets out the proposed Gambling Act 2005 Policy for 2025 to 2028 upon

which the Council proposed to consult.

27.2    The Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager advised the meeting that the current Gambling Act 2005 Policy expired in January 2025 and that Officers taken the opportunity to revise the policy statement to reflect the latest guidance issued to licensing authorities by the Gambling Commission.  She informed Members that there were legally prescribed procedures that the Council must follow before the policy statement could take effect, which involved making the statement publicly available by a variety of means for at least 4 weeks and by advertising that it has been published and that following the consultation period the statement must be adopted by Full Council.

27.3    RESOLVED:

            That the revised draft Gambling Act Policy Statement as set out at Appendix A be agreed by the Committee and approved for consultation.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

28.1    Members received the report of the Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager which gave details of the licences issued and the variations that have been made between 1 September 2023 and the 31 January 2024 and a summary of applications considered by the Committee.

28.2    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.

28.3    In response to a question regarding the rise in the number of applications for Private Hire Operator Licences the Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager commented that this may be due to the requirement to hold a Private Hire Operator Licence in order to apply for passenger transport contracts.

28.4    In response to a question regarding the reasons for the refusal to grant taxi driver licences the Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager stated that the most common reason for refusal was due to convictions held by the applicant.

28.5    RESOLVED

That members note the position as set out in the report.

To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee will be held on Wednesday 12 June 2024 at 10.00am

29.1    Members were reminded that the next scheduled meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee would be held on Wednesday 12 June 2024 at 10.00am