Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer requested the Committee to put forward nominations for a Chairman for the meeting, given that both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had submitted their apologies. 

RESOLVED that the Committee nominated Councillor Kendall to chair the meeting.

Members are required to declare any personal or prejudicial interests and the nature of that interest, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2007.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee on 5 July 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee considered a report on air quality data for the Borough. The Council’s air quality strategy provided a framework for local air quality control through air quality management and standards. Evidence showed that the main source of pollution in the Borough was from vehicles, accordingly air quality stations are used to monitor the main traffic routes in the Borough.

Members queried whether it was possible to have live air quality information on the Council’s website. Officers agreed to investigate this possibility and report back to the Committee. Members also felt it would be useful to have some comparative information or statistics from other areas. Officers agreed to include comparative information in the next report on air quality to the Committee.

 RESOLVED that the Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee were presented with a report that reviewed the Council’s Licensing Policy. The provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 required that the Council have a Licensing Policy and review that policy every three years.

The Committee put forward the following minor amendments to the wording of the policy to be added by officers in consultation with the Chair:

(i)                  Page 46, 1.8: Take out ‘cultural’ and replace with ‘council’ if appropriate.

(ii)                Page 50, (e): Change ‘liaise’ to ‘consult’. (to reflect that this is only part of the process OR add appropriate wording to reflect this)

(iii)               Page 45, first paragraph: reword to reflect that the Council is the Licensing Authority.

(iv)              Page 61, 6.12: Reword to state: ‘Applicants for Premises Licenses are expected to conduct a thorough risk assessment on the activities proposed at the premises giving due consideration to the Licensing Objectives.’

(v)                Page 61, 6.13: Change ‘consult’ to ‘notify’ if appropriate.

(vi)              Page 61, 6.13: Letter missing after (e).

In reference to Page 68, 13.2, Members queried whether it was possible to have a pool of five members of which three could be drawn for the Licensing Panel to allow greater flexibility and to ensure that Licensing Panels did not run the risk of becoming inquorate. The Democratic Services Officer stated that she would query this and report back to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Committee

i)                    note the proposed changes to the Licensing Policy

ii)                   agree that the revised policy be put forward to

a)      The Executive on 23 October 2007 and

b)      Full Council on 28 November 2007 for approval.

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee considered a report on the Neighbour Notification procedure. This procedure involved sending notification letters to residents who were immediate neighbours to any premises subject to new and variation applications for premises licenses.

The Committee noted that it would be helpful to show the location of where representations had been received from on location maps at Licensing Panels.

RESOLVED that the practice of Neighbour Notification be continued for all new and variation applications for premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003.

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee were presented with a report that considered the inspection of Taxis and Private Hire vehicles licensed by the Council. At present Taxis and Private Hire vehicles were inspected for both mechanical and general condition at regular periods by the Council’s Depot. From the New Year it was expected that due to changes within that work area it would no longer be possible for such inspections to be carried out at that site.

The report before the Committee proposed that this work be outsourced to local garages who were MOT stations and who would commit to a Service Level Agreement set out by the Council. 

Members asked that corrosion be added to the inspection criteria for Taxis and Private Hire vehicles.

RESOLVED that the Committee;

i)                    noted the proposals for the provision of new testing facilities and

ii)                   considered and approved the Manual of Standards document as an appropriate standard for the testing of such vehicles.

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee considered a report on the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005. The Council had been able to accept applications for gambling premises licenses since May 2007. The deadline for applications to ensure continuation rights for existing operators was July 2007 and the Gambling Act came into effect on 1 September 2007. The Licensing Section had received thirteen applications for gambling premises licenses within the transition period, prior to the deadline to ensure continuation rights.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report. 

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee considered a report on the Council’s development of an Online Licensing system. When the system testing was complete, Online Licensing would be promoted to members of the public and applicants through more prominent links on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report.

(Director of Environment and Leisure)

The Committee were presented with a report that considered restricting the number of Street Collection permits to be issued throughout the Borough and at specified locations. A letter had been received from the Centre Manager on behalf of the Meadows Shopping Centre requesting an extension in the number of permits to be issued at that site.

The Committee agreed that permits should be increased from 50 to 75 at the Meadows Shopping Centre but asked that only one charity be permitted to collect at any one time.

RESOLVED that the Committee agreed that the number of Street Collection permits available for issue at the Meadows Shopping Centre increase from 50 to 75 per calendar year and that only one charity be permitted to collect at any one time.