The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Bucke (with Councillor Scott substituting).

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on 12 April 2017.

The minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 12 April 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other interest, and nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were none.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (General Purposes) Sub-Committee held on 5 June 2017.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (General Purposes) Sub-Committee held on 11 December 2017.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (General Purposes) Sub-Committee held on 23 February 2018.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Premises/Personal Licences Sub-Committee “C” held on 15 May 2017.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Premises/Personal Licences Sub-Committee “A” held on 14 August 2017.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Premises/Personal Licences Sub-Committee “C” held on 20 November 2017.

Details of licences that have been approved under Delegated Powers during the period 7 October 2015 to 13 March 2018 are submitted for the Committee’s information.

The Committee noted the contents of a report (A.1) on the number of applications approved under delegated powers as at 13 March 2018, which was submitted for information only.

To consider a letter received on 6 December 2017 from the Tendring District Taxi Association requesting both an increase in the scale of fares, and a change in distance for which the fare is calculated that is currently operative within the District. 

The Committee had before it a report (A.2) which sought its consideration of a letter that had been received on 6 December 2017 from the Tendring District Taxi Association (TDTA) requesting an increase in the scale of fares, and a change in distance for which the fare was calculated that was currently operative within the District. The letter was attached as Appendix ‘A’ to the report.

It was reported that Members had last granted a fare increase that was effective from 29 July 2012.

Members were advised that should they determine to grant an increase to the table of fares, such increase must be advertised in the local press and any representations received placed before the next available meeting of the Committee.

A comparison table of the cost of the existing tariff and the proposed tariff was attached as Appendix B to the report.

A comparison table of the proposed tariff and other local authorities within Essex was attached as Appendix C to the report.

Officers felt that, owing to the increases in fuel, vehicle maintenance and insurance, and that there had been no request for an increase to the fare tariff since 2012; that there was merit in Members giving consideration to the request.

Having considered the request of the Tendring District Taxi Association it was moved by Councillor White, seconded by Councillor V E Guglielmi and -

RESOLVED that:

a)         the Committee is minded to grant the Tendring District Taxi Association’s request for an increase in the Hackney Carriage Fare Scale, subject to two amendments to the Comparison Fare Table whereby:

(i)         Each subsequent 196 yards or part thereof be amended to read “Each subsequent 200 yards or part thereof”; and

(ii)        Waiting time of 54 seconds be amended to read “Waiting time of 1 minute”.

b)         public notice be given of the intention of the Council to increase and amend the Hackney Carriage Fare Scale operative within the District in accordance with the request made by the Tendring District Taxi Association (as amended at the meeting);

c)         that any representations received in response to the said public notice be considered at the next meeting of the Committee; and

d)         that if no representations are received in response to the said public notice, or if all representations that are received are in favour of the fare increase, the Licensing Manager, in consultation with the Chairman (or failing him the Vice-Chairman) of the Committee be authorised to implement the new Hackney Carriage Fare Scale within the District with effect from 28 days following the end of the public consultation period.

To pass the following resolution:-

“That under Schedule 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business to be considered below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act”

It was RESOLVED  that, under Schedule 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda items 13 – 15 on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above exempt minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the exempt minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (General Purposes) Sub-Committee held on 5 June 2017.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above exempt minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the exempt minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (General Purposes) Sub-Committee held on 11 December 2017.

The Committee is to receive and note, for information only, the above exempt minutes. 

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the exempt minutes of the meeting of the Licensing (General Purposes) Sub-Committee held on 23 February 2018.