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.

Resolved: That under Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item Four, Use of Delegated Powers since the last meeting.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 February 2021 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2021 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To review the decision of the Sub-Committee in November 2020 to suspend applications for Street Collection permits in line with Coronavirus restrictions at that time and to consider the allocation of Street Collection permits for 2021-2022.

Members reviewed the decision of the Sub-Committee in November 2020 to suspend applications for Street Collection permits in line with Coronavirus restrictions at that time and considered the allocation of Street Collection permits for 2021-2022.

Mr Lee Petrak, Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, presented the Item and advised that in anticipation of Step Two of the Government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown, with the proposed reopening of shops, outdoor hospitality and attractions from 12 April, a number of organisations wished to restart charitable collections as soon as possible. It was explained that the Licensing Service had no existing Street Collection permits for 2021-2022 that required consideration due to the current suspension on applications, and so requested that the Licensing and Trading Standards Manager be delegated the authority to grant permits to future suitable applicants.

Resolved:

1. To delegate authority to the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager to issue suitable applicants with permits for 2021-2022.

2. To restart the issuing of permits for Street Collections using the delegated authority agreed in (1) above from 12 April 2021, or no earlier than the date the Government moves to Step Two of its Roadmap out of Lockdown.

3. To authorise the grant of a permit under the Street Collection regulations to cover the public collections made via the collection booths during the period of the Illuminations and to permit the sale to the public a brochure on the evening of the Switch On of the 2021 Illuminations.

To receive a verbal update on the use of Delegated Powers by the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager since the last meeting of the Sub-Committee.

(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)

Mr Lee Petrak, Licensing and Trading Standards Manager, updated Members on the use of Delegated Powers to revoke a Private Hire Driver’s licence since the last meeting.

Mr Petrak reported that on 18 February 2021 the Licensing Service became aware of a Private Hire Driver, DPS, who was the subject of a Police investigation relating to a quantity of suspected Class A drugs found in a licensed Private Hire vehicle at a time when the vehicle was the responsibility of DPS.

They were subsequently invited to attend an interview with the Licensing Service on 9 March 2021 to discuss the incident, at which the account provided by them in relation to their movements in respect of the matter was not deemed to be satisfactory. As a result, the Licensing and Trading Standards Manager had decided on balance that DPS was not a fit and proper person and so revoked DPS’s Private Hire Driver’s Licence with immediate effect.

Resolved: To note the update on the use of Delegated Powers.

To note the date of the next meeting as 27 April 2021.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 27 April 2021.