To receive apolgies for absence

          Councillor Nigel Lumby, as Vice-Chairman chaired the meeting.

11.1    Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Roy Aldcroft, David Evans and Pam Moseley. 

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

12.1  RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings of the Strategic Licencing Committee held on 12^th June 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 12 noon on Thursday 3^rd October 2024

13.1    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.

14.1  There were no interests declared

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

15.1    Members received the report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager which set out the proposed updated Gambling Act 2005 – Policy Statement.

15.2    RESOLVED:

15.3    That the Committee considers the representations received following the formal consultation on the draft Gambling Policy Statement in Appendix 1 and agrees the officers’ comments in Appendix 2 in response to the comments made and recommends to the Council that the policy statement is published and advertised by the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager in accordance with the provisions of the Act and that the policy statement will take effect from 31 January 2025.

15.4   That Committee delegates to the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Licensing Committee, the authority to amend any typographical errors and/or administrative inconsistencies in the proposed Gambling Policy Statement as set out in Appendix 1 prior to the policy statement being presented to the Council for final approval.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

16.1    Members received the report of the Transactional and Licensing Manager which set out a proposal for a revised Hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

16.2    The Committee discussed the feasibility and implications of increasing the frequency and formality of the consultation process, however it was agreed to remain with the status quo. 

16.3    RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Licensing Committee approves, with any necessary modifications, the proposed Table of Fares for the whole administrative area of Shropshire Council, as set out in Appendix A, and agrees that it will come into effect from 17 October 2024. 

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

17.1    Members received the report of the Transactional Management and Licensing – Team Manager which set out the revision of licensing fees where the authority has the discretion to determine the relevant fees for the financial year from 2025 - 2026

17.2    RESOLVED:

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 2025 and instructs the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager to arrange for the fees to be included in the 2025/26 annual fees and charges reports that are presented to Cabinet and Council and further instructs the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager to implement, as appropriate, any other statutory fees that may be brought into force during the 2025/26 financial year and to publish all relevant statutory fees on the licensing pages of the Council’s website as soon as is practicable.

That the Committee implements, with any necessary modification and with effect from 1 April 2025 the proposed fees as set out in Appendices D, E, F, G, H and I that relate to those licences and licensing related activities where the authority has the discretion to determine the fees and instructs the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager to arrange for the fees to be included in the 2025/26 annual fees and charges reports that are presented to Cabinet and Council and further instructs the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager to publish the fees on the licensing pages of the Council’s website as soon as is practicable.

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 Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager, in accordance with the provisions of Section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to undertake the necessary work to consult and implement the fees.

That the Committee instructs the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager to arrange for the proposed fees as set out in Appendix F, with any necessary modification, to be included in the 2025/26 annual fees and charges reports that are presented to Cabinet and Council and, where necessary, in respect of those fees a note is recorded in the said annual reports stating ‘Provisional fees under consultation fees to be confirmed by the Strategic Licensing Committee’.  

That the Committee agrees the Relevant Protected Site fees policy as set out at Appendix J and instructs the Transactional Management and Licensing Team Manager is published the fees policy on the licensing pages of the Council’s website.

Report of the Transactional and Licensing Team Manager is attached.

Contact: Mandy Beever (01743 251702)

18.1    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 May 2024 and the 31 August 2024, and a summary of applications considered by the Committee.

18.2    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.

18.3    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 11 December 2024 at 10.00am

19.11          Members noted that the next meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee would be held on 11 December 2024 at 10.00am