Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Mary Dooley.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items of business to be considered.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To consider the minutes of the last General Licensing Committee meeting held on 21^st December 2021.

Moved by Councillor Ray Heffer and seconded by Councillor Andrew Joesbury

RESOLVED that the minutes of a General Licensing Committee held on 21^st December 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Committee considered a report which set out responses received from a public consultation undertaken in relation to the introduction of a policy to make CCTV mandatory in Hackney Carriages & Private Hire Vehicles.  The report also invited Members to consider any amendments to the policy document and recommend a final version to Council for approval.

Based on the consultation responses, Licensing officers had not made significant amendments to the draft policy, however, the primary concern had been the cost of the CCTV to taxi operators.  Officers had investigated any financial support that could be given and it was suggested that the possibility of discounted rates as part of the procurement process would be explored.

The consultation responses had also included a representation from an executive taxi company who had requested an exemption from the policy.  However, this would need to be a decision made by Members to deal with future exemption requests by either considering them as a Sub-Committee or delegating them to Environmental Health officers.

In response to a Member’s query, the Environmental Health Team Manager – Licensing, advised the meeting that operators would be written to immediately following approval of the policy at Council. 

In response to another Member’s query, the Environmental Health Team Manager – Licensing explained that if a CCTV system lost power, there must be a safeguard in place that was not a battery backup.

Moved by Councillor Ray Heffer and seconded by Councillor Andrew Joesbury

RESOLVED that the consultation responses and officer comments be noted,

RECOMMENDED that Council adopt the final version of the policy and delegate

           authority to the Environmental Health Team Manager - Licensing to determine the

           final technical specification.

(Environmental Health Team Manager – Licensing)