Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in

doing so state:

the type of interest concerned either a

(a) personal interest

(b) prejudicial interest

(c) disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 13 March 2018 as a true and correct record.

The Sub-Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2018.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Resolved:That under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the whole item, including the

decisions referred to at Agenda item 3 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider an application under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 for a Special Safety Certificate for an A-Ha pop concert at Blackpool Football Club on 16 June 2018.

The Sub-Committee considered an application under the Safety at Sports Ground Act 1975 for a Special Safety Certificate at Blackpool Football Club. The certificate was required for an A-Ha concert on 16 June 2018. Due to the nature of the event, the requirements were different than those included within the General Safety Certificate.

The report from Mrs Michelle Wilson, Principal Building Control Surveyor, explained that the proposed certificate would allow for a maximum attendance of 13,206 which would not exceed the ingress and egress limits. The Sub-Committee noted that the event had been carefully planned and met all of the relevant health and safety requirements. In addition, the emergency services had offered no objections to the outlined proposal. It was therefore proposed that that the certificate should be approved.

Resolved:

To approve the issuing of a Special Safety Certificate for the event to be held on 16 June 2018 with a capacity of 13,206.

(This item contains personal information regarding applicants and licence holders which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972)

The Sub-Committee was informed of an applicant who had given sufficient cause for concern as to be referred to the Sub-Committee for consideration.

Members discussed the application as follows:

(i)                 M.J.F (New Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver applicant)

Mr Ryan Ratcliffe, Licensing Officer, was in attendance and advised the Sub-Committee that the applicant had been convicted of a number of historical criminal offences that included several both for dishonesty and driving without insurance. In addition, MJF had been convicted of a series of motoring offences, some of which had occurred recently. Mr Ratcliffe added that if the applicant received any more points before April 2018, he would face a driving ban under the totting up process.

The applicant was in attendance and suggested that in relation to the historical criminal convictions he had behaved stupidly in each case and regretted his actions. With regard to the insurance offences, MJF offered that he had been unable to pay for his insurance premium on one occasion and this had led to the conviction and subsequent points being added to his driver’s licence.

The Sub-Committee accepted that the applicant had displayed limited remorse for his offending behaviour. However, given the applicant’s poor driving record, the number and recency of offences he had committed combined with a lack of any suggestion from the applicant on how he might avoid future motoring violations, Members were inclined not to grant the licence.

Resolved: That the application for a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence be refused on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence, given the nature and frequency of his convictions.

Background papers: exempt

The Sub-Committee was informed that the review of the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Exceptional Quality Policy had been conducted and two responses had been received during the period of consultation with the trade and public which ended on 8 March 2018.

Members agreed with the assessment of the Licensing Service that the responses received did not offer objections to any changes made to the document and agreed it should be endorsed by the Council’s Executive.

Resolved: To recommend to the Executive Committee that they adopt the proposed amendments to the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Exceptional Quality Policy.

To consider the applications for street collection permits detailed in the report.

The applicant, Mr Bentley was in attendance with a friend and made representations to the Sub-Committee regarding the nature of his charitable organisation, Here 4 u, which he had applied on behalf of for a permit to collect in the St John’s Square area on 18 August 2018 between 8am and 8pm.

The applicant described the nature of the charity and the event to be held on 18 August 2018. Members were informed that Here 4 U offered support and advice to people with autism and/or mental health issues to help them overcome loneliness and isolation and to provide community support to allow greater independence for those individuals. Mr Bentley reported that the organisation received referrals from the Harbour facility and other partner organisations within Blackpool and he envisioned helping a greater number of people in the future, hence the application for a street collection. The Sub-Committee was informed that all those working for the charity were volunteers and only minor travelling expenses were paid to those volunteers from time to time.

The Sub-Committee expressed concern at a lack of supporting paperwork regarding the charity’s work and requested that further evidence be provided to the Licensing Service as soon as possible.

Resolved:

To defer making a decision on the application for a street collection permit for Here 4 U to allow the applicant time to submit the charity’s annual report, details of referrals, testimonials, accounting  and other supporting materials to the Licensing Service prior to the dispatch of the agenda for the  8 May 2018 meeting.

To note the date of the next meeting as 8 May 2018.

Members noted that the date of the next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 8 May 2018.