Agenda and minutes

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 consider commissioning an unmet demand survey at the request of the Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum with a view to introducing a limiting policy on the issue of hackney carriage licenses.

The Committee considered a report that asked them to consider commissioning an unmet demand survey at the request of the Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum with a view to introducing a limiting policy on the issue of Hackney carriage licenses.

The Committee noted that 53 out of 55 licence holders had agreed that there was a need to limit the number of Hackney carriage licences within Bracknell Forest. In addition, 51 licence holders had expressed the preference that the increase in their licence fee to finance the unmet demand survey be spread over three years.

It was reported that 3 businesses had put forward tenders for the unmet demand survey and that officers had recommended the lowest priced tender be commissioned to the Committee, this was put forward by a business called TPI.

The Chairman thanked the officers for all the work that had been undertaken to get this work off the ground.

It was RESOLVED that;

i)                    TPI be invited to conduct an unmet demand survey with a view to reporting back their findings to the Licensing and Safety Committee at its meeting on 1 October 2009,

ii)                   The cost of a Hackney carriage vehicle licence be advertised to increase from £220 to £270,

iii)                 If no objections were received, the new cost be implemented from 1 July 2009, and

iv)                 The Chief Officer; Environment and Public Protection be authorised to consider any objections and determine the fee and implementation date in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

To consider a proposal to introduce public speaking at meetings of the Licensing and Safety Committee for a one year trial period.

The Committee received a report that asked them to consider the introduction of public speaking at the Licensing and Safety Committee for a one year trial period. It was reported that a public leaflet would be produced to detail the process for public speaking. Members welcomed the proposal.

It was RESOLVED that;

i)                    with effect from 2 July 2009 for a trial period of one year, public speaking be permitted at the Licensing and Safety Committee,

ii)                   in line with the principles set out in paragraphs 4.3.1 to 4.3.3 of the report in the agenda papers, officers in conjunction with the Chairman of the Committee produce and publish a document setting out the procedure for public speaking at the Licensing and Safety Committee and

iii)                 the arrangement be reviewed by the Committee in 12 months time. 

To report on the activities carried out by the Licensing Section during the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 and seek approval to the Service Plan for the period 2009-12 and the work plan for 2009/10.

The Committee received a report on the activities carried out by the Licensing Section during the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, which sought approval of the Service Plan for the period 2009-12 and sought comments on the work plan for 2009/10.

In response to members’ queries, officers reported that the single inspection service detailed on page 33 was useful in that it reduced the inspection burden on businesses. Instead of separate inspections by Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing officers, a single inspection would be carried out by one officer.

It was RESOLVED that;

i)                    the Annual Report of the Licensing Section be received and the work carried out in 2008-09 noted and

ii)                   the Service Plan 2009-12 be approved and the associated work plan for 2009-10 be noted.

On 2 October the Committee deferred this item until its next meeting in order to allow officers to research some of the concerns raised by the taxi trade on the original report. Officers have now met with the Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum and their union representatives to discuss the concerns raised and seek consensus on the way forward.

The Committee considered a report that detailed proposals for first aid training for licensed drivers. It was reported that licensed drivers had been consulted on these proposals but that no comments had been received from them. It was confirmed that the cost of the training would need to be recovered from licensed drivers through their fee.

It was RESOLVED that;

i)                    drivers first licensed with the Council prior to August 2001, who had not attended an approved emergency first aid course, be required to do so by 1 April 2011,

ii)                   licensed drivers who had attended an emergency first aid course more than 5 years ago must attend the Council’s emergency first aid course by 1 April 2011,

iii)                 all licensed drivers must undertake refresher emergency first aid training every 5 years from the date of the original training,

iv)                 the cost of the training be met by licensed drivers through a fee payable at the time of booking and

v)                  if a driver fails, without reasonable excuse, to attend a booked course, a further fee would be payable.

The Council is required to review and consult upon its ‘Statement of Gambling Principles’ every three years from the date of adoption. The purpose of this report is to advise the Committee on the proposals for the consultation which will take place prior to the Statement being submitted to the Committee on 1 October 2009 for approval.

The Committee considered a report that advised them on the proposals for the consultation around the Review of Statement of Gambling Principles, which would take place prior to the new policy being published.

It was RESOLVED that the list of consultees set out in Appendix A of the agenda papers, be invited to contribute to the review of the Council’s “Statement of Gambling Principles”.

Since the last meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee on 5 February 2009, there have been three meetings with representatives of the Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum (BLTF), on 11 February, 3 March and 8 April. The minutes of these meetings are attached for information.

The Committee considered the minutes of the meetings of the Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum. The Licensing Team Leader reported that she was looking into whether meters should be switched on whilst a wheelchair user was being assisted into a taxi. She would look at how other local authorities approached this as well as consider whether there would be any breach of the Disability Discrimination Act.

It was reported that the taxi trade had asked about the possibility of extending the use of bus lanes and bus gates to taxi drivers. In particular, the bus gate on Downshire Way. Officers stated that TPI had been asked to consider the impact of doing this alongside the unmet demand survey. In addition, the taxi trade had been asked to provide details of the likely frequency and times of days that specific bus gates would be used by taxi drivers. This information would allow Transport officers to provide an assessment of how this would impact the traffic flow of the Borough as a whole. This matter would be discussed again at the next meeting of the Forum.

The Chairman asked if visits to ranks and operators as requested on page 74 of the agenda papers could be organised.

Members agreed that it would be useful if an action points summary was drafted following each Committee meeting. Officers agreed to look at this. 

The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on 2 July 2009.

2 July 2009.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2009.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee on 5 February 2009 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

Matters Arising

Minute 23:Health & Safety Law Enforcement Plan 2009-10: Councillor Browne stated that he had not received information on attendance at seminars that focussed on disease reduction. Officers agreed to look into this.

Minute 29: Changes to the Licensing Act 2003: Officers confirmed that schools were not included under the definition of ‘community’ under the new legislation. Schools were required to hold a premises licence, but were exempt from paying the fee for this licence. In addition, schools would need to apply for temporary notices if they wished to hold events outside their usual activity, this would include fetes and plays in the evening.