Venue: Time Square, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JD
Contact: Lizzie Rich 01344 352253
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Declarations of Interest Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interests 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.
Any Member with an affected Interest in a matter must disclose the interest to the meeting. There is no requirement to withdraw from the meeting when the interest is only an affected interest, but the Monitoring Officer should be notified of the interest, if not previously notified of it, within 28 days of the meeting. Minutes: There were no Declarations of Interest. |
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To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2024. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. |
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Urgent Items of Business Any other items which, pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair decides are urgent. Minutes: There were no Urgent Items of Business. |
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Notice of Public Speaking To note those agenda items which have received an application for public speaking Minutes: The Committee received an application for public speaking from Manoj Lacximicanta on various issues relating to the hackney carriage trade. In his speech, Manoj touched upon the following issues: · Age of vehicles · Geographical knowledge test · Certificate of good conduct · A new Whatsapp group which had been created for wheelchair accessible drivers · Drivers had agreed to hold a dual badge · Reading Borough Council bus lanes · Drivers requested that the fees and charges be frozen for 12 months · Waitrose taxi rank which remained a significant issue · Practical driving assessment · Uber drivers using taxi ranks, which Transport for London had advised was a matter for Licensing officers to address
Manoj thanked members for their ongoing support of the trade.
Arising from a question, it was noted that of the 187 hackney carriage and private hire cars registered in Bracknell Forest, only 1 was of Euro 4 vehicle emission standard and the majority complied with Euro 6 standard. It was also recognised that the age of vehicle point had been in place in Bracknell Forest policy since 2018. |
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Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy To consider proposed modifications to the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy following the implementation of the policy which has highlighted a need to review and update minor elements to assist with making sections clearer and easier to understand. Additional documents:
Minutes: Mark Groves, Lead Licensing Officer presented the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
The policy was brought back before the Committee to reflect three minor amendments recommended by the Department for Transport which had not been included in the previous iteration.
The amendments related to requirements around certificates of good conduct, guidance around fire extinguishers, and time limits for licensees to report convictions and fixed penalty notices as summarised in the report and appendix.
In response to questions, the following points were noted: · Licensing officers were only aware of one renewal applicant who was unable to provide a certificate of good conduct from their home country and the applicant had instead provided a certificate of good conduct from another country they had lived in. · If applicants had any difficulty in providing a certificate of good conduct, they should contact the Licensing team who would assist wherever possible. · It was clarified that asylum seekers would be unlikely to be able to source a certificate of good conduct from their home country if they had fled the country. In this case, applicants would be asked to provide certificates from the countries they had passed through on their way to the UK. · Licensing officers would often ask for certificates of good conduct and receive them promptly, and would follow up with the relevant embassy if there were questions on the validity of a certificate.
Having discussed the matter it was RESOLVED that:
1 The Committee considers the proposed changes to policy as set out in appendix to the report and recommends to members that the updated policy be adopted subject to any modifications agreed at the meeting. The amendments are namely:
· Sections 50 in the Dual Driver and Private Hire Driver Licences and Private Hire Operator Licences for the Certificate of Good Conduct and making the content clearer for both new applicants and current dual licensed drivers · Section 60 in the Private Hire Operators and making the content clearer for both new applicants and current dual licensed drivers. · Section 6 of the policy in relation to Appendix C the Taxi Drivers’ Code of Conduct and specifically the Declaration of Convictions where all new applicants must declare all convictions, cautions, fixed penalty notices, CBO’s (Criminal Behaviour Orders), CPNs (Community Protection Notices), requirements to attend a speed awareness course, injunctions, restraining orders and all motoring convictions to Bracknell Forest Council on your initial application form. · For current licenced drivers to report all new convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, anti-social behaviour orders, community protection notices, criminal behaviour orders, community service orders, restraining orders, fixed penalties (including traffic offences), all motoring convictions, driver education courses and any disqualifications from driving in writing within 48 hours. In addition, all drivers must inform the relevant council in writing within 48 hours if they are arrested, formally interviewed as a suspect or charged with an offence by the police. · Section 30 of the policy in relation to Appendix F the Private Hire Operator Conditions and specifically Convictions which is for ... view the full minutes text for item 26. |
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Public Protection Partnership Fees and Charges 2025/26 To consider representations made to the Council in the statutory twenty-eight-day consultation period relating to variations to operators and vehicle licence fees and to consider any adjustments.
Additional documents: Minutes: Moira Fraser, Policy and Governance Officer presented the Public Protection Partnership Fees and Charges 2025/26.
At the October 2024 meeting of this Committee, members had agreed to consult on the fees which the Council was statutorily required to consult on. Officers had completed the consultation as agreed.
Two responses had been received from the trade, both objecting to the proposed 3% increase in fees. Members were reminded that any freeze or reduction of fees would need to be met by a subsidy from Bracknell Forest Council.
It was RESOLVED that
1 The Committee notes the comments received during the statutory consultation on variations to operators and vehicle licence fees as set out in Appendix A to the report.
2 The proposed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle and private hire operator’s fees be recommended to full Council for approval to come into effect on the 01 April 2025. |
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To receive an update on the Bracknell Taxi Trade Liaison Group Meeting held on 13 January 2025. Minutes: Members received a report summarising the discussion of the latest taxi trade meeting.
Officers in the Highways team were working to finalise the wording of the signage to tell customers that taxis could accept electronic payment.
The trade were working to develop collaboration on sharing jobs where possible.
It was unlikely that Reading Borough Council would permit Bracknell Forest taxi drivers to use their bus lanes.
Members noted the report. |
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Mobile and Park Homes Site Update To receive a briefing note on the Licensing Authority’s work on park home sites. Minutes: Members received a report on work regarding mobile and park homes sites, at the request of Councillor Gaw in a previous meeting. The report included details on the sites in the borough, including fees, legislative framework and information about licence conditions and inspections.
In response to questions, the following points were noted: · It was noted that a new lead housing officer would be starting with the Public Protection Partnership in mid-February, and it was hoped that this new officer would take the lead on any issues arising from park home sites. Each site was reviewed on an annual basis, and sites which required more attention would have more thorough visits. · Members noted that the fire safety regulations were mostly under the remit of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and housing officers worked closely with the service to put standards in place for park home site. · An issue regarding fire safety and evacuation procedure at a particular site was raised, and officers agreed to discuss the matter outside of the meeting. |
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Film Classification Policy To consider the draft policy and agree its adoption. Additional documents: Minutes: Mark Groves, Lead Licensing Officer presented the proposed Film Classification Policy.
Local authorities would be asked to assign a film classification to film which had not been graded by the British Board of Film Classification, or to reclassify a film in case of objections. The Licensing authority may be asked to issue classifications for one-off screenings, film festivals and other showings in the borough.
It was RESOLVED that the policy be recommended to full Council for adoption, as published. |
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Licensing Panel decision To note the outcome of Licensing Panels held since the previous Committee meeting. Minutes: Members noted the minutes of a recent Licensing Panel meeting. |