Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 December 2024 (attached herewith).

Minutes of the last meeting, held 18 December 2024, were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Brett and Councillor Saunders.

Disclosure by councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the councillor regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

There were none.

Items not on the agenda which the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances as defined in Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chair confirmed there were no urgent items.

To deal with written questions from councillors pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12.3 (page D8 of the Constitution).

There were none.

Report of the Chief Executive.

Jo Dunk, Lead for Regulatory Services (LRS) presented the report, which proposed revised licensing fees for April 2025 to March 2026. Nina Lavelle (Finance Business Partner) and Rebecca Wynn (Regulatory Services Lead) attended in support.

The Chair thanked Officers for the report and invited comments and questions from the Committee.

In the following discussions Officers provided detailed explanations as to why some areas incurred higher cost increases and the process for establishing where increases were needed and the Committee noted that fees were set to cover costs only, not make a profit. Specific areas commented on included (but not exclusively) taxi fees, port health fees and mobile homes.

Officers explained the specific, administrative remit of the Fees Structure and why it could be inappropriate to see fees as an incentivising tool.

The LRS reported on the number of taxi applications currently in progress and the steps required for processing.

A correction of figures quoted in paragraph 2.5 of the report regarding Residential Mobile Home Sites was noted.

On completion of discussions, Councillor Davies proposed and Councillor Alexander seconded the recommendation. 

Resolved (with one abstention):

To agree the licensing fees proposed within Appendix 1 to apply from 1 April 2025 and to recommend these to Full Council for approval.

Officers reported that the date of the next meeting would be confirmed to Members via email following approval of the Calendar of Meetings by Full Council.