Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Hilary Bedford, Julie Buttery and Paul Wharton-Hardman.

Councillor Connor Watson was in attendance as substitute for Councillor Buttery.

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 Member’s 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 judgement 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 was no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the Committee held on 27 June 2023 attached for approval and signing by the Chair.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting held on 27 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the General Licensing Sub Committee held on 20 June 2023 attached for approval and signing by the Chair.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting held on 20 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Minutes of Licensing Panel hearings held on 25 July 2023 at 2pm and 5pm attached for approval and signing by the Chair.

Minutes of the Licensing Panel hearing held on 1 August 2023 to follow.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2023 at 2pm were agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2023 at 5pm were agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2023 were agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Report of the Director of Planning and Development attached.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Planning and Development that sought to provide an update on the effectiveness of the Vehicle Age Policy introduced in 2022.

The Licensing Manager explained that since the meeting of Licensing and Public Safety Committee in 2022, officers had found that all new vehicles licenced had been euro 6 rated, with the exception of some larger vehicles which had been licenced as special needs transport vehicles.

Prior to the policy being introduced in June 2022 the fleet of vehicles licenced by the Authority had only ten hybrid vehicles. This number had now increased by an additional 16 hybrid vehicles being added to the fleet by new and existing drivers. It was the Licensing managers view that vehicle proprietors were seeing the incentives to buying hybrid low polluting vehicles as they can be two years older when first licenced and remain licenced for four years longer.

The Council had commissioned an unmet demand survey in 2022 and the report found that there was no unmet demand of licenced vehicles in South Ribble.

The Licensing Manager advised that officers had researched the costs of electric vehicles and found that whilst some second hand vehicles had been found at a lower expense, fit for purpose vehicles are still seen as being out of the price range for drivers. Transport for London (TfL) had also extended the exemptions for wheelchair accessible vehicles for paying ULEZ until 2027.

Members noted that there was an increase in low polluting hybrid vehicles coming onto the fleet, with lower Co2 levels helping to create a fleet of low polluting vehicles, a step towards the Council’s aspirations to be net carbon by 2030.

In response to a member enquiry, the Licensing Manager confirmed that batteries in electric vehicles were expected to last up until ten years and there was no disposal facilities for electric vehicles in the borough.

Members thanked the Licensing Manager for a detailed and comprehensive report.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

The committee:

1.    noted the contents of the report,

2.    considered the proposed changes to the Vehicle Age Policy wording recommended by officers,

3.    agreed that Officers should undertake a consultation exercise with stakeholders on the proposed changes,

4.    agreed to receive a report on the outcome of the consultation exercise at a future meeting.

Report of the Director of Planning and Development attached.

The Licensing Manager presented a report of the Director of Planning and Development that sought approval to extend the current cafe pavement licensing scheme for a further year until 30 September 2024 in line with the Business and Planning Act 2020 (Pavement Licences) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

The Licensing Manager explained that it was a statutory requirement to extend the current café pavement licensing scheme until 30 September 2024 in line with the legislation. The fee for the pavement licence was set to £100 in 2020 and had remained at this cost, the policy and application form had been updated to reflect the extension to the licences.

In response to a member enquiry, the Licensing Manager advised there had been around 6-7 pavement licences issued and there had been no issues of crime and disorder or any accidents.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

The committee:

1.    Note the changes to the Business & Planning Act 2020 introduced by the Business and Planning Act 2023 (Pavement Licences) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2023,

2.    To agree to extend the proposed duration of granting of pavement licences until 30 September 2024 as per the Business and Planning Act 2023 (Pavement Licences) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2023,

3.    To confirm the level of fee charged in respect of applications for pavement licences issued under the Business & Planning Act 2020,

4.    To extend delegated authority to officers as described in the report,

5.    Members agree to forward the report to the next meeting of Council with a recommendation for formal adoption of the proposed policy.