Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs P Hayre and L Whittle.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 June 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 10 June 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To agree, as a correct record, the minutes of the Licensing Panels held since the last meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 2 July 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Panel held on 30 July 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 6 August 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 14 August 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 16 October 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director (Democracy) which presents the responses to the Parliamentary Polling Districts & Polling Places consultation and puts forward details of any proposed changes.

The Committee received a report by the Assistant Director (Democracy) which presented the responses to the Parliamentary Polling Districts & Polling Places consultation and put forward details of proposed changes.

The Chairman, and several other members of the Committee put forward their thanks to officers for the hard work that has gone into completing such a challenging task.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  notes the consultation responses as set out in Appendix A to the report;

(b)  considered the proposals set out in the report; and

(c)  recommends the final scheme for Polling Places and Polling Districts 2024 to Council for adoption for the next four years, as shown in Appendix C to the report.

To receive a report by the Head of Environmental Health which invites the Committee to review the Gambling Statement of Principles.

The Committee received a report by the Head of Environmental Health which presented the Gambling Statement of Principles for review.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  having considered the draft document and noted the result of the statutory consultation exercise, makes no amendments to the draft policy statement; and

(b)  recommends to the Executive that the final draft Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles 2025-2028, as attached at Appendix A to the report be recommended for adoption by the Council.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health which presents a review of the Hackney Carriage Tariff.

The Committee received a report by the Head of Environmental Health which presented a review of the Hackney Carriage Tariff for consideration.

Members discussed the level of increase requested, noting that during the Covid-19 Pandemic the Taxi Trade had not requested an increase to the Tariff due to concerns that it would discourage people from using their services.

It was also noted that the Taxi Trade does not ask for an increase every year and only does so when it is felt appropriate. Members felt that the level of increase requested was reasonable, with some members suggesting that, given the recent cost of living crisis, a higher increase would be justified. The Committee concluded that, under the circumstances, the Taxi Trade is best placed to judge what the Taxi Tariff should be.

RESOLVED that the Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  considered the proposal as detailed in the report;

(b)  agrees that a change to the tariff is appropriate; and

(c)  recommends to the Executive that the proposed Hackney Carriage Tariff, as detailed at Appendix F to the report, be agreed.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2024/25.

The Committee received a report by the Head of Environmental Health which presented the Committee’s Work Programme for 2024/25 for consideration.

During the discussion on this item it was agreed that the Police Licensing Officer be invited to one of the remaining meetings in the municipal year to update the Committee on local police licensing matters.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee:

(a)  notes the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 10 June 2024, attached as Appendix A to the report;

(b)  agrees the updated Work Programme for the 2024/25 municipal year as attached at Appendix B to the report.