Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on 6 June 2019 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th June 2019 were signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business authorised by the Chair.

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

Councillors 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 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors 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, Councillors 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. 

Councillor Austen-Baker declared an ‘other interest (non-prejudicial)’ in Item No. 6 on the Agenda – Existing Dual Driver’s Licence Holder – Steven Fred Towers (Minute No. 14 refers) for the reason that he worked at Lancaster University where the incident occurred.

Councillor Joan Jackson declared an ’other interest (prejudicial)’ in Item No. 8 on the Agenda – Vehicle Licensing – Exemption Request – Mr. John Taylor (Minute No. 16 refers) for the reason that Mr. Taylor was an associate of hers. 

The Committee is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following item:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the ground that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Councillors are reminded that, whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the Committee to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public.  In making the decision, Councillors should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  In considering their discretion, Councillors should also be mindful of the advice of Council officers.  

The Chair advised Members that it had been recommended to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information.

It was moved by Councillor Joan Jackson and seconded by Councillor Guilding:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the ground that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously carried.

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the ground that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

It was noted that Councillor Austen-Baker had declared an ‘other interest (non-prejudicial)’ in the following item.

Report of the Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager to assess Mr. Towers’ continued fitness to be licensed and to consider what action, if any, to take in respect of Mr. Towers’ dual driver’s licence.

Details of the individual case and the Chair’s summary of the decision are set out in Exempt Minute No. 14, in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Decision of the Committee:

That, based on the Licensing Manager’s report and Mr. Towers’ representation, the Committee resolves that Mr. Towers be issued with a warning regarding his conduct/behaviour.

The press and public were readmitted to the meeting at this point.

With the agreement of the Committee, the Chair moved the order of the Agenda to allow members of the public to leave the meeting following consideration of their applications.

Agenda Items 8 and 9 (Minute Nos. 16 and 17 refer) were considered together.

It was noted that Councillor Joan Jackson had declared an ‘other interest (prejudicial)’ in the following item and left the meeting room during its consideration and did not vote on the matter.

Report of the Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager for the purpose of considering a request from Mr. John Taylor to issue his private hire vehicle with a s75 (3) exemption notice and to consider a request to waiver the conditions relating to door signs and stickers. 

Mr. Taylor had been invited to attend the Licensing Committee to provide supplementary information regarding his request and was in attendance at the meeting with his wife, Dawn Taylor, for consideration of the report.  Members had inspected the vehicle to which the request related prior to the meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Greenall and seconded by Councillor Parr:

“That, based on the Licensing Manager’s report, the inspection of the private hire vehicle and Mr. Taylor’s representation, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That Mr. Taylor’s private hire vehicle be issued with a s75 (3) exemption    notice to exempt the vehicle from displaying licence plates.

(2)        That the conditions relating to door signs and stickers in relation to the vehicle        be waived.”

A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously carried.

Resolved:

That, based on the Licensing Manager’s report, the inspection of the private hire vehicle and Mr. Taylor’s representation, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That Mr. Taylor’s private hire vehicle be issued with a s75 (3) exemption    notice to exempt the vehicle from displaying licence plates.

(2)        That the conditions relating to door signs and stickers in relation to the vehicle        be waived.

Report of the Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager to consider a request from Mr. Nigel Ralphson to issue his private hire vehicle with a s75 (3) exemption notice, which would exempt the vehicle from displaying licence plates, and to consider a request to waiver the conditions relating to door signs and stickers.

Mr. Ralphson had been invited to attend the Licensing Committee to provide supplementary information regarding his request and was in attendance at the meeting for consideration of the report.  Members had inspected the vehicle to which the request related prior to the meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Austen-Baker and seconded by Councillor Greenall:

 “That, based on the Licensing Manager’s report, the inspection of the private hire vehicle and Mr. Ralphson’s representation, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That Mr. Ralphson’s private hire vehicle be issued with a s75 (3) exemption           notice to exempt the vehicle from displaying licence plates.

(2)        That the conditions relating to door signs and stickers in relation to the vehicle        be waived.”

A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously carried.

Resolved:

That, based on the Licensing Manager’s report, the inspection of the private hire vehicle and Mr. Ralphson’s representation, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That Mr. Ralphson’s private hire vehicle be issued with a s75 (3) exemption           notice to exempt the vehicle from displaying licence plates.

(2)        That the conditions relating to door signs and stickers in relation to the vehicle        be waived.

Councillor Joan Jackson returned to the meeting room at this point.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer (Community Protection) and Dog Warden joined the meeting at this point.

Report of the Director for Communities & the Environment

The Committee received the report of the Director for Communities and the Environment for the purpose of reviewing the costs and licensing fees for animal-related licensing and approving the level of fee for 2019/20, giving particular consideration to substantive changes introduced by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

It was reported that the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 had introduced a new regime for animal licensing, which had substantially increased the workloads of animal licensing staff.  It was noted that the function could not be carried out without additional resources, and full cost recovery would be necessary in order to assist in funding this.

The options and options analysis (including risk assessment) were set out in the report, as follows:

Option 1         Fully recover all costs by charging the fees set out in Appendix 1 to                        the report.

Option 2         Increase fees by 2.1% in line with inflation.

Option 3         Propose an alternative fee structure.

The officer preferred option was option 1.

It was proposed by Councillor Joan Jackson and seconded by Councillor Evans:

“That, based on the findings and recommendation contained in the Director for Communities and the Environment’s report, the Committee resolves that all costs be fully recovered by charging the fees set out in Appendix 1 (copy attached).”

A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously carried.

Resolved:

That, based on the findings and recommendation contained in the Director for Communities and the Environment’s report, the Committee resolves that all costs be fully recovered by charging the fees set out in Appendix 1 (copy attached).

The Senior Environmental Health Officer (Community Protection) and Dog Warden left the meeting at this point.

Report of the Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager to update Members on the proposal to introduce a new fare tariff in relation to licensed hackney carriages operating in the Lancaster district. 

It was reported that there had been no fare increase to the tariff used to calculate hackney carriage fares since 2017, when RPI had been applied, which had resulted in a marginal increase. 

In the absence of any alternative mechanism, it was proposed that RPI should continue to be used as the default method to calculate increases in future years and that the average two-mile journey on tariff 1 should be raised to £5.80, which was just below the national average. 

The options and options analysis (including risk assessment) were set out in the report, as follows:

The officer preferred option was option 3.

It was proposed by Councillor Austen-Baker and seconded by Councillor Greenall:

“That, based on the details and recommendations set out in the Licensing Manager’s report, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That a 20 pence increase be applied to the initial flag fall.

(2)       That the matter be referred to Cabinet for approval, as the Licensing Committee is not the decision-making body.

(3)        That the potential to work with the Institute of Licensing and other Authorities          to develop a common approach to setting hackney carriage fares be noted.”

A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously carried.

Resolved:

That, based on the details and recommendations set out in the Licensing Manager’s report, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That a 20 pence increase be applied to the initial flag fall.

(2)       That the matter be referred to Cabinet for approval, as the Licensing Committee is not the decision-making body.

(3)        That the potential to work with the Institute of Licensing and other Authorities          to develop a common approach to setting hackney carriage fares be noted.

Report of the Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Licensing Manager, which sought Members’ approval to the adoption of draft guidance entitled Guidance on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licences, which was based on the Institute of Licensing’s guidance.  If adopted, the guidance would update existing guidance and application procedures, and would form the basis for considering an applicant’s fitness.

Members were advised that the two documents currently used by Licensing Services as guidance were not well set out, and members of the trade were not using the documents as intended.

The matter had gone out for consultation.  The two responses received were reported to Members.

It was proposed by Councillor Greenall and seconded by Councillor Evans:

“That based on the findings and recommendations contained in the Licensing Manager’s report, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That the Guidance on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees for     Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licences be adopted.”

(2)        That the Committee be provided with a report on the number of licences    captured under the new Guidance.”

A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously carried.

Resolved:

That, based on the findings and recommendations contained in the Licensing Manager’s report, the Committee resolves:

(1)        That the Guidance on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees for     Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licences be adopted.

(2)        That the Committee be provided with a report on the number of licences    captured under the new Guidance.