Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Fourth Floor, Easthampstead House, Bracknell

Contact: Priya Patel  01344 352233

Items
No. Item

13.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

 

Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

14.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 239 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2016.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 June 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to Councillors Brossard and Leake’s apologies being added.

15.

Urgent Items of Business

Any other items which, pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman decides are urgent.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

16.

Notice of Public Speaking

To note those agenda items which have received an application for public speaking.

Minutes:

It was noted that no members of the public had registered to speak at the meeting.

17.

Park Homes Fee Policy pdf icon PDF 108 KB

To receive the results of the consultation process on the proposed new Park Homes Fee Policy.  To consider the responses and agree a new Fee Policy document.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the results of the consultation process on the proposed new Park Homes Fee Policy. The Committee was asked to consider the responses and agree a new Fee Policy document.

 

In response to Members queries, the Chief Officer: Environment and Public Protection reported that the frequency of inspections at particular sites was determined by any intelligence received.

 

RESOLVED that the Park Homes Fee Policy as attached at Annex A of the report be agreed.

18.

Review of Guidance Notes and Conditions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Owners, Operators and Drivers pdf icon PDF 150 KB

To seek approval to go out to consultation on amendments and additions to the Council’s Guidance Notes and Conditions document.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This report sought the Committee’s approval to go out to consultation on amendments and additions to the Council’s Guidance Notes and Conditions document.

 

The Chief Officer reported that the proposed amendments and additions to the Guidance Notes and Conditions plugged the gaps that currently existed.

 

RESOLVED that;

 

i)              the Committee approved the amendments and additions to the Guidance Notes and Conditions document setting out at Annex A for consultation and

 

ii)             asked officers to bring back a report to the next meeting on the results of the consultation.

19.

Results of Consultation on Conditions to Control CCTV in Taxi's pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To consider the responses and agree the recommendation contained within this report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This report informed the Committee of the results of a public consultation carried out upon a proposal to introduce licence conditions to control the use of CCTV in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles within Bracknell Forest.

 

The Committee expressed concern that it was clear from the consultation responses that the respondents had misunderstood the issues being consulted upon and formed the misconception that CCTV was being imposed upon them. The Chief Officer reported that respondents had been contacted to clarify this. The Chairman stated that this was sufficient given that nothing was being imposed by the Council.

 

In response to Members queries, the Chief Officer reported that it wasn’t just licensed drivers who had been consulted but also passengers and the public. The need for this consultation had arisen from the misuse of CCTV in licensed vehicles. This was exacerbated by the ease by which materials could be published on the internet.

 

Checking the use of CCTV by licensed drivers would become one of the items on the checklist if a vehicle was pulled over for a spot check or if a complaint was made, this would be investigated.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee agreed that the licence conditions attached as Annex F to the report be adopted and applied to vehicle, driver and operator licences from 6 October 2016.   

20.

Child Sexual Exploitation Training for Taxi Drivers pdf icon PDF 131 KB

To seek approval from Members to progress discussion with a single provider and reach an agreement upon delivery of the course for a period of 3 years from 1 April 2017.

Minutes:

The Committee were updated on enquiries into running a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) training programme for licensed drivers and operators.

 

The Chief Officer reported that all local authorities were considering training of this nature following the CSE cases in Rotherham and Oxford. This training would ensure that drivers understood their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding as well as protect the drivers. The possibility of working with six local authorities in Berkshire was being considered to deliver the training. It was anticipated that the training would be delivered in house by local authorities, collectively for the six local authorities.

 

This large pool of people to be trained would allow courses to be delivered at various locations across Berkshire and could be delivered on a weekly basis depending on demand.

 

In response to Members queries, the Chief Officer reported that the quality of the training would need to be established with the provider. The Chief Officer stated that he was a member of the CSE Board and so would consider their input. In addition, to contact the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board to ensure the training being delivered was of a good standard.

 

RESOLVED that;

 

i)              officers would continue discussions with Training Provider C to finalise course content, costs and implementation,

 

ii)             officers consult with members of the taxi trade upon the introduction of the training and how it can best be delivered,

 

iii)            the Chair of the Licensing and safety Committee be delegated authority to authorise the agreement following an update by officers.   

21.

Animal Boarding Establishments Licence Conditions pdf icon PDF 18 KB

To consider adoption of the Model Licence Conditions for Boarding Establishments as published by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) in 2013 (cats) and 2016 (dogs).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Officer reported that adopting model conditions would allow the Council to draw from a pool of conditions as required.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee approved a consultation exercise with all existing licence holders in respect of adoption of the revised model licence conditions.

22.

Minutes of Licensing Panels pdf icon PDF 143 KB

The Committee is asked to note the attached minutes of Licensing Panels which took place on:

 

6 July 2016

13 July 2016

10 August 2016

7 September 2016

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted the minutes of Licensing Panel hearings held on the following dates:

6 July 2016

13 July 2016

10 August 2016

7 September 2016

23.

Select Committee Review of Licensing Act 2003 pdf icon PDF 270 KB

The Committee is asked to note this information report.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the information report.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk