Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) 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 4 October 2022 as a true and correct record.

The Licensing Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 October 2022.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 4 October 2022 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the proposed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Mrs Sharon Davies, Senior Licensing Solicitor, presented the recommendations of the Public Protection Sub-Committee concerning the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. The policy had been due for a full review, as the last full update had taken place in 2016, the Committee contemplated the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards in relation to the current policy.

Lee Petrak, Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, brought the Committees attention to point 5.11 in the report that the Vehicle specification and exceptional quality policy would benefit from a full review which would take place in 2023. The delay in the review was to allow time to consider comments from the National Private Hire and Taxi Association.

Mr Petrak outlined that the appeals section of the policy on page 149 of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy would be better suited to the position of Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, the Committee endorsed this proposed change to the policy.

The Committee agreed with the recommendation of the Public Protection Sub- Committee to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy amendment of the section on safeguarding to refer to both children and vulnerable people. The amended policy attached at Appendix 3c contained in the report reflected the comments already made by Public Protection Sub-Committee at its meeting on 4 October 2022.

Resolved:

The Committee considered the proposed policy, the suggestions raised by Lee Petrak in relation to paragraph 5.11 of the report requiring a future review of  Vehicle specification and exceptional quality policy, the minor amendment on page 149 regarding the officer delegation and the recommendation from the Public Protection Sub-Committee regarding references relating to children and vulnerable people and agreed to recommend Executive to approve the amended Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

To note the date of the next meeting as 6 December 2022.

To note the date of the next meeting as 6 December 2022.