Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Mike Nelson (Vice Chair), Claire Hamilton and Jim Marsh

The Committee welcomed Mark Marshall who had been appointed as the new Licensing Manager. Mark was currently employed at Blackpool Council in the Enforcement Team and was looking forward to joining South Ribble Council at the end of the month.

The Chair on behalf of the Committee thanked Andy Glover for all his help and support as Interim Licensing Manager and wished him all the best in his future endeavours.

Councillor Rainsbury also informed the Committee that he was attending his last meeting as Chair and the Committee wished him all the best for his forthcoming Mayoral year

Minutes of the last meeting held on 20 February 2018 attached to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on 20 February 2018 be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

To confirm the minutes of the General Licensing Sub Committee Panel meeting held on 20 February 2018 (enclosed).

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the minutes of the General Licensing Sub Committee Panel held on 20 February 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.

Report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources & Transformation) attached.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources and Transformation) that updated Members on the latest position on the proposed adoption of a draft policy to ensure the safety of licensed vehicles which were subject to modification.

Members had received several reports on this policy over the past twelve months and this report advised Members on the outcome of a second consultation exercise that had recently been undertaken. Members were also asked to note an updated version of the Equalities Impact assessment appended to the report.

Following no responses being received for the second consultation exercise Members were asked to consider whether to forward the final version of the draft testing specification for modified vehicles to a meeting of full Council for approval.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    To recommend full Council to formally adopt the final version of the draft testing specification for modified vehicles (to take effect on 1 July 2018) at its meeting on 17 May 2018.

2.    To recommend full Council approve that any tests to ensure the safety of modified vehicles against a specification be carried out solely by the Lancashire County Council facility at Bamber Bridge at its meeting on 17 May 2018.

Report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources & Transformation) attached.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources and Transformation) that presented a draft copy of the Licensing Annual Report for 2017/18 that set out the team’s performance and achievements over the past 12 months.

The draft report identified and documented the good work that had been undertaken by the General Licensing Committee and covered the traditional areas of:

·         Hackney Carriage/Private Hire/Licensed Operators

·         Licensing Act 2003 (liquor)

·         Gambling; and

·         Scrap Metal

This year’s report also covered the work that had been undertaken on the relatively untouched area of work for the Committee on residential mobile homes and emphasised the considerable steps that had been taken by the Committee to modernise its governance processes and procedures.

The Committee thanked the Licensing Team for all their hard work over the year and were pleased with performance to date. The Committee also extended best wishes to Stephanie Fairbrother, Licensing Officer who was going on Maternity Leave shortly.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

Approval to submit the General Licensing Committee/Licensing Act 2003 Committee Annual Report for 2017/18 to a future meeting of full Council.

Report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources & Transformation) attached.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources and Transformation) that updated Members on the outcome of a work group that had considered differential age limits on licensed vehicles.

The review had been undertaken following a Taxi Trade Forum at which trade representatives had expressed a view that it was undesirable to have a policy of differential age limits for saloon and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The Task Group, Chaired by Councillor Wooldridge had met in February 2018 to consider the policy and a copy of their report was appended to the report which recommended the adoption of an amendment to the current Licensing Policy which, if endorsed by full Council, would result in the introduction of a standardised age limit for all vehicles, whether saloon or wheelchair accessible) of up to 6 years on first registration and a maximum age limit of 12 years. Councillor Wooldridge thanked the work of the Task Group that had been a mixture of Councillors, officers and external representatives, the review had been a good piece of work that had helped to foster better working relations with the trade.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    That the General Licensing Committee endorses the draft report and its recommendation for a revision to the Licensing Policy in line with the recommendations made by the Task Group that will be consulted upon for a period of 28 days as per the methodology set out in the report.

2.    That the General Licensing Committee will receive an update report following the outcome of the consultation exercise at a future meeting.

3.    That a letter of thanks be sent to the representatives from the licensed trade and disability group that contributed to the process.

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 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

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

By virtue of Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

Report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Resources & Transformation) attached.

The Interim Licensing Manager reported on the recent decision to refuse a licensing application. The decision to refuse the application had been taken on 20 February 2018 by the General Licensing Sub-Committee Panel.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the decision be noted.