Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton

Contact: Christopher Lane  01395 517544

Items
No. Item

9.

Public Speaking

Information on public speaking is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no questions raised by members of the public.

10.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee held on 3 July 2019 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

11.

Declarations of interest

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

12.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency raised at the meeting.

13.

Confidential/exempt item(s)

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

 

Minutes:

There were no confidential or exempt items.

14.

Seaton Taxi rank pdf icon PDF 35 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the request from Seaton Town Council for the removal of the taxi rank in Marine Place which is to be relocated nearby, on the same side of the road on Castle Hill, Seaton. The request is part of the Town Council’s seafront enhancement proposals.

 

Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager reported that the existing rank was not heavily used by the taxi trade, with only the occasional car sitting waiting for trade from the seafront. In response to a question from members he reported that there were between 20-25 taxis in Seaton and two main companies. Consultations on the proposals would let the trade know that the rank was under review.

 

It was noted that all taxi ranks in East Devon should be painted yellow or they would not be legally enforceable. It was the responsibility of Devon County Council as Highway Authority to ensure that taxi ranks were correctly painted.

 

RESOLVED that the request from Seaton Town Council to relocate the Hackney Carriage rank from Marine Place to Castle Hill, Seaton and to approve the options contained in this report to commence consultation with the taxi trade be approved.

15.

Update on Proposed Hackney Carriage (Taxi) Fare Tariff Changes pdf icon PDF 50 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the report of the Licensing Manager which provided an update regarding a proposed increase to the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff. This was to enable the Hackney Carriage trade within the District to continue to operate economically whilst still maintaining an efficient, safe and cost effective service for those residents of and visitors to East Devon who need to use the services of a Hackney Carriage.

 

Members questioned whether further consultation was necessary in view of the lack of responses to the original consultation. It was noted that there had only been one email supporting the original proposals. The Exmouth Trade Association had made a request that the Tariff 1 be increased by £0.50 to £3.50 and also that the soiling charge be increased from £50 to £80. It was noted that there were over 70 taxi drivers in Exmouth, more than 50% of the total number of drivers in the District. Regularly Exmouth drivers did not use the meter to charge for fares but would make a lower charge to the customer. Members suggested that there was no need to go to further consultation in view of the lack of response to the original consultation.

 

Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager agreed to produce detailed figures of the taxi drivers and vehicles throughout East Devon for the next meeting of the Committee in October.

 

RESOLVED that the update provided in this report for proposed Hackney Carriage Tariff increase options set out in Appendices C and F following recent consultation with the taxi trade be noted and the proposals contained in Appendix F be approved for advertising more widely to the public.