Items
No. |
Item |
12. |
Introductions
Minutes:
Members of the Committee and
Officers present introduced themselves via roll call during the
meeting.
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13. |
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022 PDF 175 KB
Minutes:
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022
were submitted and approved, and the Chair was authorised to sign
them as a correct record, subject to the amendment of item 8,
Approval of Additional Licensing Fee, the name of the seconder of
the motion was amended from Councillor Taylor to Councillor
Diplock.
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14. |
Apologies for absence/declaration of substitute members
Minutes:
An apology for absence had been received from
Councillor Amanda Morris and absence was noted for Councillor
Jim Murray.
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15. |
Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) by members as required under Section 31 of the Localism Act and of other interests as required by the Code of Conduct.
Minutes:
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16. |
Questions by members of the public
On matters not already included
on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given
(total time allowed 15 minutes).
Minutes:
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17. |
Urgent items of business
The Chair to notify the
Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the
agenda.
Minutes:
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18. |
Right to address the meeting/order of business
The Chair to report any requests received to
address the Committee from a member of the public or from a
Councillor in respect of an item listed below and to invite the
Committee to consider taking such items at the commencement of the
meeting.
One spokesperson is permitted to speak for 3
minutes and must register by 12noon on Friday, 13th
January 2023. Email: committees@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk
Note: Normally only one speaker is allowed to
address the Committee on an item for three minutes and that one
person should act as spokesperson for the group. No more than one
speaker can be allowed except in exceptional circumstances with
prior agreement of the Chair at the registration deadline.
Minutes:
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19. |
Approval of Licensing Fees 2023/24 PDF 107 KB
Report of Director of Service
Delivery
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee considered the report which
sought its recommendation to Full Council that the licensing fees
set out in the appendix to the report
be applied from 1 April 2023 to 31 March
2024.
An amendment was tabled in relation to
paragraph 2.5 of the report. The date of the indicative income
forecast was corrected from ‘2022/2023’ to
‘2023/2024’, and the additional income forecast for
2023/24 was corrected from £117,125 to
£117,000. A copy of the amended
table was circulated at the meeting.
The Regulatory Services Lead
(RSL) presented the report highlighting the fees proposed for the
year, including the recommended changes to the Licensing fees in
relation to post pandemic growth areas for pavement licencing fees,
and piercing and tattooing licensing fee.
Members’ questions included:
- Were there different Pavement
Licences fees depending on the number of tables outside a premises?
Officers advised that Officer time was charged at the same rate to
consider an application regardless of the number of tables.
- How did the figures equate between
the table in paragraph 2.5 (amended) and Appendix 1? What was the reason for the proposed increase and
where would the money come from to cover the deficit?Officers
advised that the table of fees at paragraph 2.5 reflected the
income forecast of estimated fees and did not take into account the
actual proposed fees at Appendix 1.
There was an increase in some fees to meet inflation, service
demand and staff resources to administer applications. Furthermore,
there had been a number of changes that had affected the taxi
licensing fees from the HMRC and the Department of Transport.
- Feedback from the trade was that they did not
want the fee increase. Officers advised that during the pandemic
the Council had assisted the trade to help restrict costs and the
fee increases were required to balance the books.
- Did the Personal Licence include more than the 4
categories listed: acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing and
electrolysis? Officers confirmed the categories were covered by
legislation and that a Business Premises Licence would also be
required for those working at home.
Both the Personal and Business Premises Licences would require a
one-off fee that did not need to be renewed. An administration fee
would only apply to a Personal Licence if there was a change of
staff.
- Was an increase in the number of taxi licences
anticipated or were the figures based
on the current number of licences?
Officers confirmed the figures were based on the current number of
taxi licenses.
- Did Officers hold up to
date figures on the number of private hire vehicles in Eastbourne,
and how did they compare to pre-pandemic levels? Officers confirmed the numbers of vehicles had not
reduced significantly. Post-pandemic, the trade were selective on
whether they wished to operate full or part time. The challenges
with vehicle availability at peak times were reflected across the
country.
Councillor Swansborough proposed a motion to
agree the officer recommendations listed in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Parker.
Resolved (by ...
view the full minutes text for item 19.
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20. |
Consideration of feedback from the Trade PDF 160 KB
Report of Director of Service
Delivery.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee
considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery which
provided feedback received from the trade, and sought an amendment
to the age of vehicles in the taxi and private hire vehicle sector,
and an annual review of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire
Licensing Guidance commencing in June 2023.
The Committee
welcomed the collaboratory work between
Officers and the trade.
Members’
questions included:
- Were the door signs on
Hackney Carriage vehicles getting smaller? Officers confirmed the door signs had reduced in
size due to operating costs.
- Could the 10 year age
limit on vehicles be extended for relicensing? Officers advised
that the purpose of the report was to make more options available
for drivers to find new vehicles, as the cost of them had
significantly increased. All other
Licensing Authorities throughout East and West Sussex had a 10-year
cap on the age of vehicles. This was a
measure to help support the trade during the transition, prior to
taking into account the outcomes of the feasibility study on low or
no emission vehicles.
- Were there any private hire or hackney carriage
vehicles on the roads that were more than 5 years old? Officers advised that a vehicle must be no more
than 5 years old when it was first registered. Although,
there might be exceptional circumstances which the authorised
officer would determine. It was not
possible to list them all. Applications were dealt with on the
information provided, on a case by case basis, and at the
discretion of the officer.
- Members raised concerns
that the knowledge test was out of date. Officers had taken on board feedback from the
trade to be more transparent, and had produced a revision document
that took into account the weighting of questions and the
additional requirements of the Department of Transport guidance, to
advise applicants on what they needed to research for the test from
the examples provided. The changes to the test would take effect
from 1 April 2023. The English test would not be included as part
of the knowledge test, as the requirement for it had not come in
until a later date. This would be
undertaken separately.
- Officers were asked to
explain Options 1 and 2 in the recommendation. Officers advised the report proposed to extend the
age limit for newly licensed vehicles from 5 years to 9 years, as a
temporary measure and to review the age of vehicles when the
overall Guidance was next reviewed. The
Guidance would take into consideration an emissions
policy.
- Officers were asked to
provide case studies to give an idea of the principles used to make
the decision as to the meaning of ‘exceptional
circumstances’ and for the Committee to discuss the Guidance
on ‘exceptional circumstances’. Officers advised there
would be an opportunity to discuss and review the overall Guidance
at the Licensing Committee meeting in June 2023 and agreed to
provide more clarity as to the meaning of ‘exceptional
circumstances’.
The Committee
considered the Option 1 and Option ...
view the full minutes text for item 20.
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21. |
Implementation for CCTV in Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles PDF 108 KB
Report of Director of Service
Delivery
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee
considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery regarding
an implementation date for mandatory CCTV in Hackney and Private
Hire vehicles.
Appended to the
report at Appendix 1 was four company quotations, as requested by
the Committee.
The Specialist
Advisor – Licensing (SAL) presented the report. The Committee was asked to agree an implementation
date of 1st May 2023 for CCTV to be mandatory
requirement in Private Hire and Hackney Carriage
Vehicles.
Members’
questions included:
- What was the reason for
the CCTV implementation date of 1st May? Officers
advised that public safety concerns that had been raised in
relation to the night time economy in Eastbourne, so it was hoped
to bring in CCTV requirement at an early date.
- How many complaints had
been received regarding taxi drivers in the last 6 months and what
were the incidents? Did Lewes
experience similar concerns regarding public safety? Officers
advised the data was not immediately available, but some cases were
taken to the Licensing Sub-Committee and authorised officers were
able to revoke a licence if necessary. The Council wanted to send a
clear message to say complaints or concerns would be taken
seriously and install confidence in the trade. Local police had highlighted a particular issue
with public safety during the night time in Eastbourne. This did not apply in the same way in Lewes
District.
- Was it possible to align the implementation date for
Eastbourne with Lewes to give more time for the Eastbourne
trade? Officers advised the decision in
Lewes was taken at the Licensing Committee meeting in May 2021 for
the installation deadline by 1 October 2023. Eastbourne Licensing Committee had previously
agreed that CCTV quotations should be reported to the Committee,
prior to it agreeing the implementation date. The trade was aware
of the matter, as it had been raised multiple times at the taxi
forum meetings and through the consultation process.
- Members raised concerns on the effect of costs
incurred by vehicle owners and impacts on the cost of
living. Officers advised that the
equipment could be leased and there was a tax relief option
for the trade on the installation of CCTV.
- Members raised concerns
on the number of CCTV installations needed to meet the
deadline. Officers advised there was a
choice of four installation companies to choose from and that some
vehicles already had CCTV installed.
- It was asked how many
vehicles already had CCTV installed and how long would it take
before Officers could inspect the vehicle? Officers advised the data was not immediately
available. Liability would fall with
the vehicle owner as it was a requirement of the Guidance. There
were regular spot checks, operator inspections and vehicle
suitability checks every 6 months. In
the future, CCTV installation might form part of the vehicle
suitability test.
- Did the drivers know how
to maintain the CCTV equipment? Officers advised it was in the
Guidance and this was shared with the trade.
- How did the Council
become the data controller? ...
view the full minutes text for item 21.
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22. |
Further supporting the transition to lower emission vehicles or zero emission vehicles in the taxi and private hire sector PDF 42 KB
Report of Director of Service
Delivery
Minutes:
The Committee
considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery for
Members to consider extending the licence span for
low and hybrid emission Hackney Carriage
and Private Hire vehicles.
The Regulatory
Services Lead (RSL) presented the report highlighting the
recommended changes to the Guidance.
The Licensing
Committee welcomed the amendments.
Councillor Babarinde
proposed a motion to agree the officer recommendations listed in
the report. This was seconded by
Councillor Parker.
RESOLVED: (Unanimous) that:
1)
The Licensing Committee agrees that, as
an immediate incentive, the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire
Licensing Guidance be amended so that low and zero emission vehicles may have an extended licence
span to 15 years.
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23. |
Date of the next meeting
To note that the next meeting
of the Licensing Committee is scheduled to be held on Monday, 13
March 2023 at 6:00pm.
Proposed dates for the
Licensing Committee for 2023/24 are as follows and will be
presented to Full Council for approval:
Monday, 26 June 2023,
6:00pm
Monday, 15 January 2024,
6:00pm.
Any additional meetings of the
Committee will be scheduled as and when required.
Minutes:
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