Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2015 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th January 2015 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests.  (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting.)

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B, Section 2 of the Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of Chief Officer (Health and Housing)

The Committee received the report of the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) to review the costs and licensing fees for animal-related licensing to enable Members to approve the level of fee for 2015/16.

It was reported that there would be in the region of 60 animal-related licensed premises during 2015/16.  Direct costs had been proportionately applied to each type of licence based on direct officer time spent, using time monitoring carried out during 2014/15.

It was intended that indirect costs would continue to be monitored over the coming financial year and that a report would be brought to the Committee for a decision to be made whether to fully recover licensing costs when approving revised fees in future years.

In line with other fees and charges applied during the current Budget process, and to cover inflation, an increase of 1.5% was recommended in the fees charged for animal welfare licences in 2015/16, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

It was proposed by Councillor Harrison:

“That a 1.5% increase in animal welfare licences for 2015/16 be approved.”

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Dennison, subject to the following amendment:

“That a report be brought back to Committee on the differential between commercial and home boarding establishments to see whether it is proportionate.”

The amendment was accepted by Councillor Harrison.

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)        That a 1.5% increase in animal welfare licences for 2015/16 be approved.

(2)        That a report be brought back to Committee on the differential between commercial and home boarding establishments to see whether it is proportionate.

The Public Health Team Leader left the meeting at this point.

Report of Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager to enable Members to consider the level of fees to be charged for 2015/16.

It was reported that the Council’s policy was for the Licensing Service to be self-financing, except for some licences or permits where no fee may be charged. 

The current cost of administering hackney carriage, private hire vehicle and miscellaneous licensing had been reviewed, and a more accurate breakdown had been achieved through a new time recording system that had been implemented.

It was reported that the licensing software to produce licences had been upgraded and should provide more accurate costings (excluding recharges).  The data would be looked at in 6 months’ time and reported to the Committee if necessary.

On the basis of the projections outlined to Members, should the fees remain at the same levels as in 2014/15, there would be shortfalls in hackney carriage, private hire and miscellaneous licensing.

There were three issues set out in the report for Members to consider:

·         With regard to hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences, to approve either a 1.5%, 3% or 5% increase, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

·         With regard to applicants for new drivers’ licences, to approve an increase of 10%, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

·         With regard to the miscellaneous licences, to approve either a 1.5%, 3% or 5% increase, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Alternatively, it would be open to Members to consider alternative fee structures.  Each additional 1% would recover an additional £1,600.

The officer preferred option was for a 5% increase.  This would allow the Council to recover as much of its licensing costs as possible.

Members were advised that, even with a 1%, 3% or 5% increase, there would be a shortfall in the fees recovered from miscellaneous licences administered by Licensing Services.  The shortfall regarding miscellaneous licences reflected work carried out on licences and registrations where no fee was recoverable.

The meeting adjourned for 5 minutes.

A copy of an email containing the comments of the Chairman of Lancaster City Hackney Proprietors Association was circulated to Members for consideration.

It was proposed by Councillor Harrison and seconded by Councillor Dennison:

“(1)      That hackney carriage and private hire licence fees for 2015/16 be increased by 3% and a further 10% for new applications for drivers’ licences, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

(2)        That the Chief Officer (Governance) be authorised to advertise the increases for vehicle and operator licences in accordance with the statutory requirement.”

(3)        That miscellaneous licence fees for 2015/16 be increased by 3%, as set out in Appendix B to the report.”

It was then moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Johnson, by way of an amendment:

“That there be no increase in hackney carriage and private hire licence fees, new applications for drivers’ licences and miscellaneous licence fees for 2015/16 at present and that the matter be brought back for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

The Chief Officer (Resources) left the meeting at this point.

Report of Licensing Manager (to follow)

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager to update Members and seek further consideration of proposals to make amendments to the rank provision in Morecambe.

It was reported that the matter had been deferred from the last meeting to allow a satisfactory proposal to be presented to the Committee.  Following discussions between the City Council, the Highways Authority and the taxi trade, a revised proposal had been submitted by the City Council’s Regeneration and Planning Service to appoint a rank for 8 vehicles on the west side of Market Street and an additional space for one taxi on the east side (Arndale side) of the road. 

The taxi trade and a proprietor had also put forward an alternative suggestion that the rank be moved to Tunstall Street and Anderton Street.  It was understood, however, that this would only be considered by the Highways Authority as part of a wider piece of work, and previous representations from the trade indicated that the removal of the rank in Market Street would not be supported.

Members considered the report and thanked the Chief Executive for facilitating the discussions.

It was proposed by Councillor Johnson and seconded by Councillor Dennison:

“(1)      That, taking into account the consultation responses and the further revised proposals in relation to rank provision on Market Street at Morecambe, a 35 metre stand for 8 hackney carriages on the west side of Market Street, with one additional rank space on the east side of Market Street as the head of the rank, be approved and, in conjunction with this, the 37 m stand with capacity for 8 hackney carriages and 4 feeder bays from the east side of Market Street be removed.

(2)        That the Highways Authority be requested to agree four additional rank spaces to replace those lost on Market Street.

(3)        That enquiries be made of the Highways Authority to see whether “No Stopping” signs on ranks can be provided, where permissible, to aid enforcement.”

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)        That, taking into account the consultation responses and the further revised proposals in relation to rank provision on Market Street at Morecambe, a 35 metre stand for 8 hackney carriages on the west side of Market Street, with one additional rank space on the east side of Market Street as the head of the rank, be approved and, in conjunction with this, the 37 m stand with capacity for 8 hackney carriages and 4 feeder bays from the east side of Market Street be removed.

(2)        That the Highways Authority be requested to agree four additional rank spaces to replace those lost on Market Street.

(3)        That enquiries be made of the Highways Authority to see whether “No Stopping” signs on ranks can be provided, where permissible, to aid enforcement.