Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M J Ford, JP.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2014.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

With reference to minute 8 of the meeting held on 18 November 2015, Councillor Keeble reminded the Committee that, following his question during the consideration of the item at the meeting about what decision the Committee was empowered to make, the situation had subsequently been clarified at the meeting of the Council on 11 December 2014 (minute 12 (9) refers).

It was NOTED that, with regard to budgetary matters, the Committee was invited to make recommendations to the Council, which was responsible for final decisions.

The Chairman made an announcement concerning the Licensing training session for members held earlier in the day.

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 Director of Finance and Resources on the revised revenue budget for 2014/15 and the base budget for 2015/16 following the meeting of the Council on 11 December 2014.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources on the revised revenue budget for 2014/15 and the base budget for 2015/16 following the meeting of the Council on 11 December 2014.

RESOLVED that the amended base budget for 2015/16 be agreed and recommended to Council for approval.

To consider a report by the Director of Community on the Review of Hackney Carriage Fares.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Community on the review of hackney carriage fares.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the Executive be advised of the Committee’s views as follows:

(i)    that there should be no increase in the tariff at the present time (voting: 7 for, 2 against);

(ii)   that there should be no reference to charges for paying by credit or debit card included on the tariff card at the present time; and that the hackney drivers’ association be encouraged to make representations to the companies that supply the in car equipment for processing these transactions in an effort to establish a single uniform charge (voting: unanimous);

and

(b)          the Head of Environmental Health be requested to inform all hackney carriage operators of the Executive’s decision on (i) and (ii) above.  

To consider a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2014/15.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Community on the Committee’s work programme for 2014/15.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2014 be noted;

(b)          the six monthly ‘Monitoring Report on Applications Received’ items be replaced by an annual item at the first meeting of each municipal year summarising the applications received during the previous year;

(c)          in view of similar reports submitted to the Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel and the Scrutiny Board, the ‘Annual Report on Licensed Premises and Community Safety’ item be replaced by a simplified report summarising situations that had arisen relating to licensed premises and completed actions taken to address them during the previous municipal year, to be presented at the July meeting;

(d)          it be noted that the ‘Environmental Health Partnership Update’ item, on  the work programme for 17 March 2015, might need to be carried over to the 2015/16 work programme, depending upon when the first meeting of the Environmental Health Partnership Board was arranged;

(e)          subject to (b), (c) and (d) above, the work programme for 2014/15, as shown in Appendix B to the report, be confirmed; and

(f)           the officers be requested to note members’ comments in relation to the venue for the members’ training session held on 20 January 2015 when arranging future training sessions.