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 V. Guglielmi, McWilliams and Skeels.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on Thursday 14 October 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Thursday 14 October 2021 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 District of Tendring and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

There were none.

The Committee will formally receive and note, for its information only, the Minutes of the meeting of the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee held on Friday 26 November 2021.

The Committee received and noted, for information only, the minutes of the meeting of the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee held on 26 November 2021.

To report to the Committee details of licences that have been approved under Delegated Powers during the period 25 October 2019 to 4 January 2022.

The Committee NOTED the contents of a report (A.1) on the number of applications approved under delegated powers as at 17 January 2022.

Further to the Committee's decision taken on 14 October 2021, to consider the results of the public consultation exercise in relation to a proposed increase in the scale of Hackney Carriage fares together with a change in distance for which the fare is calculated and to then decide whether to confirm those proposed changes.

The Committee recalled that, at its meeting held on 14 October 2021 (Minute 105 referred  it had considered a request from the Tendring Taximeter Forum to grant an increase to the table of fares.

After due consideration of that request the Committee had decided to pass the following resolutions:-

a)    “The Committee is minded to grant the Tendring Taximeter Forum’s request for an increase in the Hackney Carriage Fare Scale;

b)    Public Notice to 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 Taximeter Forum;

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 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”.

It was reported that five representations had been received as a result of the public notice having been placed in the local press and letters being sent to all licensed drivers within the District. 

After duly considering the representations received and an in-depth discussion the Committee  RESOLVED that:

a)    an increase to the table of fares operative within the District, as set out in  Appendix A to item A.2 of the Report of the Assistant Director (Partnerships) be approved and brought into operation with effect from 28 days following the decision of this Committee.

b)    the Licensing Manager be authorised to proceed with the public notice 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 and now approved.

For the Committee to consider the responses received from the public consultation that has taken place for the review of the Council’s Statement of Gambling Policy and amend its draft policy in light of any responses received before agreeing a final policy to put forward for consideration by Cabinet and adoption by the Full Council.

Further to Minute 106 (14.10.21) the Committee considered the responses received from the public consultation that had taken place for the review of the Council’s Statement of Gambling Policy.

 Members were aware that  the Council was required to review and renew its Statement of Gambling Policy every three years in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005.  The review and renewal of the policy was subject to public consultation and must be adopted by Full Council on recommendation from the Licensing and Registration Committee and Cabinet.

After due consideration of the consultation responses received and a short discussion the Committee RESOLVED that it:

a)    notes the outcome of the public consultation;

b)    agrees the final draft Statement of Gambling Policy, as set out in Appendix A to  item A.3 of the Report of the Assistant Director (Partnerships) and incorporating  the minor amendments thought necessary after consideration of the consultation responses received; and

c)    agrees that the final draft Statement of Gambling Policy be  submitted to  the next available Cabinet meeting for its consideration and recommendation onto Full Council for formal adoption.

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution: “That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 10 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, 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 will formally receive and note, for its information only, the exempt minutes of the meeting of the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee held on Friday 26 November 2021.

The Committee formally received and noted, for its information only, the exempt minutes of the meeting of the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee held on 26 November 2021.