Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Davis, J Henderson and White. There were no substitutes.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on 30 January 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 January 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were none.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

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 Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee held on 15 February 2019.

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 held on 1 February 2019.

Details of licences that have been approved under Delegated Powers during the period 22 October 2018 to 21 March 2019.

The Committee noted the contents of a report (A.1) on the number of applications approved under delegated powers as at 21 March 2019.

To request that the Committee approve in principle a revised draft Licensing Enforcement Policy, and to seek permission for the document to be circulated to key stakeholders for consultation purposes.

The Committee had before it a report (A.2) which requested it to approve, in principle, a revised draft Licensing Enforcement Policy, and  sought its permission for the document to be circulated to key stakeholders for consultation purposes.

It was considered good practice that the Authority revised the policy on enforcement processes from time to time to ensure that the most current information and guidance was made available to applicants taking into consideration the current legislation and resources available.

It was therefore moved by Councillor Callender, seconded by Councillor Watson and unanimously RESOLVED that – (a)  the draft Enforcement Policy, as set out in Appendix A to  item A.2 of the Report of the Corporate Director (Operational Services), be approved, in principle.

(b) the draft Enforcement Policy be circulated to the Licensing Authority’s key stakeholders for consultation purposes and that any representations received be considered at a future meeting of the Committee.

(c)  if no representations are received, the Licensing Manager, in consultation with the Chairman (or failing him the Vice-Chairman) of the Committee, be authorised to forward the proposed Enforcement Policy to Full Council for its consideration and formal adoption.

To request that the Licensing and Registration Committee consider whether Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) training become a mandatory condition on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver and operator licence for existing and new drivers and operators; and if so agree that this proposal be subject to external consultation.

The Committee had before it a report (A.3) which requested it to consider whether Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Training should become a mandatory condition on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver and operator licences for existing and new drivers and operators in an effort to improve awareness of the crucial and privileged role that drivers played in the safety of the community and, if so agreed, that this proposal be subject to external consultation.

Members asked the Licensing Manager (Karen Townshend) whether the public would be made aware that Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers and operators were required to undertake this training and she advised that she would consult with the Council’s Communications Manager to arrange to issue an appropriate press release.

Members also asked questions of Richard Eastwood, the Council’s Safer Communities Officer who responded accordingly.

It was therefore moved by Councillor Amos, seconded by Councillor Winfield and unanimously RESOLVED that – (a)  the Committee agrees, in principle, to the requirement of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers and operators completing CSE training, as a mandatory condition on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver and operator licences for existing and new drivers and operators.

(b)   ,  the Licensing Manager be authorised to undertake external consultation over a 28 day period, and to report the results of such consultation to the next scheduled meeting of the Committee for its final decision.

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”.

RESOLVED That under Schedule 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the item of business to be considered below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A 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 Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee held on 15 February 2019.