Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Wharton and David Wooldridge.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the minutes of the General Licensing Committee meeting held on 10 April 2018 be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were no declarations of any interests made at the meeting.

Report of the Head of Licensing attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Licensing seeking clarity around the use and exercise of powers to suspend and revoke a driver’s licence under Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. Suspensions made by officers were mainly as a result of administrative issues such as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or medical expiring before a driver’s licence.

It was explained that these circumstances were infrequent and that a new online Disclosure and Barring Service would help to better align expiry dates.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Licensing Manager be authorised to suspend driver licences (whether hackney carriage or private hire) in the circumstances set out in Section 4 of the report.

Report of the Head of Licensing attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Licensing which provided an update on the number of licensing applications received, enforcement activity and referrals made to partner agencies during the month of May 2018.

The Head of Licensing drew Members attention to a number of areas within the report that included, the issuing of five new premises applications and highlighted the enforcement work that the team were undertaking around premises inspections across the Borough.

In response to Members concerns, assurance was given that any inspection work was carried out in pairs.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the report be noted.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED: (Unanimously):

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business as it involved the discussion of information defined as exempt from publication under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)’ and in which the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing it.

Report of the Head of Licensing attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Licensing which provided details of the completed actions contained within the Licensing Service Improvement Plan for 2017 and the Licensing Service Forward Plan for 2018/19 which had been produced to build on the developments and improvements made to date.

The Head of Licensing highlighted the introduction of a number of new initiatives within the 2018/19 Action Plan that included:

·         The circulation of a new weekly report of new licensing applications for all Councillors categorised by ward. (Responsible Authority Tracking (RAT) sheet)).

·         The obtaining of the BII (British Institute of Innkeepers) status that will allow the team to deliver a Personal Licence Course with a view to improving service delivery; and

·         To implement a taxi driver customer care course in line with the Council’s policy, to provide more flexible access to the prerequisite qualification at a reduce cost to the BTEC qualification.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

(1)       That the progress made against the Licensing Service Improvement Plan for 2017 be noted; and

(2)       that subject to the amendment of some key dates, the Licensing Service Forward Plan for 2018/19 be approved.