Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor N R Gregory.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 July 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 July 2015 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 Director of Community on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2015/16.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Community on its work programme for 2015/16.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the progress on actions arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 7 July 2015, as shown in Appendix A to the report, be noted;

(b)          ‘Review of Licensing Policy’ be added to the work programme for 17 November 2015;

(c)          ‘Review of Licensing Policy – Outcome of Consultation’ be added to the work programme for 26 January 2016;

(d)          ‘Gambling – Statement of Principles’ be added to the work programme for 17 November 2015;

(e)          ‘Gambling – Statement of Principles – Outcome of Consultation’ be added to the work programme for 26 January 2016;

(f)           ‘Amendment to Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Duration and Fees – Outcome of Consultation’ be added to the work programme for 17 November 2015; and

(g)          subject to (b) – (g) above, the work programme for 2015/16, as shown in Appendix B to the report, be confirmed.  

To consider a report by the Director of Community on a request to review the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Conditions.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Community on proposed changes to the conditions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles and operators.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the proposed changes to the Conditions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles and operators, as summarised in Appendix B to the report be sent to all licensed taxi operators /plate holders in the area (the “Trade”), inviting any representations to be made to the Head of Environmental Health within 6 weeks;

(b)          the Head of Environmental Health be authorised to draft Conditions and Requirements, as amended, after the consultation process; and

(c)          following the consultation process, the revised conditions be submitted to the Committee at its meeting on 26 January 2016.   

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 the Executive be advised of the Committee’s views as follow:-

(a)          that the proposal from the Hackney Carriage Association that there be a standard charge of 50p for any luggage carried outside the passenger compartment be accepted; (voting: 8 for, 3 against);

(b)          that the proposal from the Hackney Carriage Association that the maximum charge for fouling a vehicle be increased to £70 be accepted; and

(c)          subject to (a) and (b) above, there be no change made to the taxi tariff at the present time.  

To consider a report by the Director of Community on proposed changes to Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Duration and Fees as a result of the Deregulation Act 2015.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Community on the proposed amendment to Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Duration and Fees.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licences be granted for three years from 1 October 2015, unless the Council considers a lesser period to be more appropriate in the individual circumstances;

(b)          Private Hire Operator’s Licences be granted for five years from 1 October 2015, unless the Council considers a period of three years or one year to be more appropriate in the circumstances;

(c)          the proposed fees for Private Hire Operator’s Licences shown in Appendix A to the report be amended as follows:

1 year - £185;

3 year - £455;

5 year - £825;

(d)          no change be made at the present time to the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage condition requiring an annual driving licence check;

(e)          the Licensing Service be requested, in accordance with the provisions of  section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, to publish a notice in the Portsmouth News concerning the proposals in (a) – (d) above (specifying a period of not less than 28 days) when any person aggrieved by the proposed fee variations can make an objection; and

(f)           any objections received as a result of (e) above be reported at the next meeting of the Committee on 17 November 2015, when the matter was due to be considered further following the consultation period.