Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 December 2023 (attached herewith).

Minutes of the last meeting, held 14^th December 2023, were confirmed as an accurate record.

Apologies were received from Councillors Brett, Davies, Hoareau and Maples.

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 were no urgent items.

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

The Chair confirmed no written questions had been received.

Report of the Chief Executive.

Jo Dunk, Regulatory Services Lead, presented the report, which outlined the purpose, process and results of the consultation survey held between May to July 2023 across all authorities in East Sussex (as detailed in Appendix A of the agenda report pack).

The presentation also noted a statement made by the Department of Transport in November 2023 regarding the potential counter-productive outcomes from setting arbitrary age limits; provided an update on the current status and near future plans for electric charge point network in the Lewes District; and advised on the thinking behind the officer recommendation being brought to the Committee.

The Chair thanked the Regulatory Services Lead for their presentation and the Committee considered the report.

In the following discussions, Members debated the potential positive and negative, or unintended, consequences of including multi-seater vehicles / MVPs within the proposal.  Officers confirmed that the Guidance already allowed for drivers to submit requests for exceptional circumstances to be considered on a variety of issues which included the Guidance age restrictions. Officers also clarified that MOT reports and twice-yearly monitoring required by the Guidance provided on-going assurances regarding vehicle emissions.

The high workshop attendance figures reported in the survey were welcomed by Committee Members.

Officers reminded Members that it had been previously agreed by the Licensing Committee that the recently reviewed Guidance would be reviewed every 3 years thereafter. However, Officers considered this minor change to the Guidance to be an exception to that decision on the basis that the consultation survey had been undertaken before that decision was made.

Resolved (unanimously)

That the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Guidance be amended so that new and relicensed vehicles defined by the Vehicle Certification Agency as low, hybrid, ultra-low or zero emission vehicles shall be age exempt.

To note that the next meeting of the Licensing Committee is scheduled to be held on Thursday 13^th June, in Rooms 209/210, Marine Workshops, Newhaven, commencing at 5pm.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 13th June 2024, at the new time of 5pm.