Agenda and minutes

Venue: On line via the Zoom app. All Councillors and registered speakers will have been sent an appointment with the meeting link

Contact: Christopher Lane  01395 517544

Items
No. Item

41.

Public Speaking

Information on public speaking is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no members of the public who wished to speak.

42.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 170 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2020 were agreed as a true record.

43.

Declarations of interest

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

 

44.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency.

45.

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 matters of urgency.

46.

Quarterly Update report -September 2020 pdf icon PDF 59 KB

47.

Licensing Act Policy consultation pdf icon PDF 39 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received the report of Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager, which update the committee on the review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing (Act 2003) Policy and sought approval to commence the consultation process on the draft policy which had been updated in the light of recent changes in legislation and experience over the past five years.

 

During discussions the following points were noted:

·        Would like more consideration given to the public health aspects of the policy. Although it was noted that public health at Deon County Council were a consultee.

·        Would like to see research carried out to see the effect of lockdown on the late night trade of the lockdown and how much was saved by the police and other agencies during this period.

·        Designated Premises Supervisors should be held responsible for tidying any litter produced by customers outside their premises.

·        Some of the problems caused in late nigh premises were customers consuming alcohol bought in supermarkets prior to going out.

 

RESOLVED that approval be given to the draft Statement of Licensing Policy as attached to the report, subject to addition of the point made above regarding litter outside licensed premises and for the Licensing Service to start the formal consultation process that was required by legislation.

48.

Taxi Fare Tariff pdf icon PDF 39 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received the report of Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager which asked the committee to note the new Hackney Carriage Fare Table following the public consultation and to consider timeliness and procedures of future fare review processes.

 

During discussions the following points were noted:

·        Is there a definition of soiling of taxis and the charges? The Licensing Service normally mediated on a couple of these issues each year. There was no data available to show that taxi cab soiling by passengers had increased.  The website would be updated to add a comment regarding the Licensing Services ability to mediate on taxi ab soiling issues.

·        That for the sake of clarity, points 9 & 10 in Appendix B be added to the first paragraph.

 

RESOLVED 1. that with the addition of the amendment made above, the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares  as attached to the report be adopted with immediate effect.

                     2. that agreement be given that the Table of Fares be reviewed annually and no earlier than 12 months after a previous review through an agreed procedure.

 

 

 

49.

Taxi Policy pdf icon PDF 40 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received the report of Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager which informed the committee on recent Government guidance issued in July 2020 with regard to the Taxi Licensing Polciy ahead of full implementation.

 

In response to a question it was noted that the Licensing Service had not received sufficient data to make CCTV in taxi cabs mandatory and certainly not many complaints from members of the public. It was noted that there was a considerable cost for drivers to introduce CCTV in cabs and the recording equipment. The requirement for DBS checks for taxi drivers was an additional cost, but other licensing authorities in Devon had introduced a service for driers at a cost of £30 each whereby they would make on line DBS checks for drivers every six months.

 

 

 

RESOLVED that the new statutory guidance which the Licensing Authority will have regard to until it is full incorporated into the Councils Taxi Licensing Policy be noted.

50.

Covid 19 Taxi Policy pdf icon PDF 37 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received the report of Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager, which asked the Committee to note the COVID-19 Taxi Policy and sought approval to contniue adoption of the policy. It was noted that the taxi trade had significantly reduced trade during the lockdown period and were continuing to see a reduction in customers.  Some drivers had chosen to SORN their vehicles to save money.

 

RESOLVED1. that the temporary adoption of the Emergency Covid 19 policy introduced in April 2020 be noted.

                   2. that its continuing use, in conjunction with the full taxi policy, be approved until further review by this committee at a later date