Agenda and minutes

To receive from Members, declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 overleaf.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 12 October 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2010 were approved as a correct record.

To approve the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committees held on:

13 September 2010

26 October 2010

1 November 2010

The minutes of the Sub-Committees held on 13 September 2010, 26 October 2010 and 1 November 2010 were approved as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the public.

The Chair shall allow one member of the public to speak on a matter for a reasonable period not exceeding 3 minutes.

There were no public questions.

To receive any petitions or deputations.

With reference to the Council Constitution, the Chair will allow one member of the public to speak on a matter for a reasonable period not exceeding 3 minutes.

Chas Rogers spoke on behalf of the Hackney Carriage Association, in connection with the Taxi and Private Hire Scrutiny Study. He stressed the importance of clarifying the differences between private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriage vehicles.

Report by Group Manager, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services.

The Committee considered a report regarding the current levels of demand for Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles and the current policy of Gloucester City Council regarding the licensing of these services. Officers clarified the following:

• There was no legal limit on the number of private hire licences.
• The number of Hackney Carriages could be limited.
• Local Authorities will be required to ensure a percentage of vehicles with wheelchair access with effect from April 2011.
• The consultation with disabled forums and different areas of the city had proved difficult due to the costs involved and time constraints.

RESOLVED

1.    To accept the report and the recommendations made in the Taxi Scrutiny Study Action Planin full in line with 2.1(b), but with the additional recommendations as follows:

2.    To clarify the details of the proposed new rank on Southgate Street outside Café Rene noted in the action plan.

3.    To clarify the moving of the rank on Eastgate Street in the report.

4.      The next tender for a taxi/private hire scrutiny study be discussed at the Licensing and Enforcement Committee to agree terms and recommendations before a further study is carried out.

Report by Group Manager, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services.

The Committee considered a report outlining options to hear private hire disciplinaries following several prosecutions at the Magistrates Court. The following options were discussed:

1.      To call 1 or 2 Special Licensing and Enforcement Committees

2.      To use delegated powers as set out in the Constitution Part 3 Responsibility for Functions paragraph 5 (a) (v), page 25 and set up 1 or more sub-committees consisting of 5 members (or any other number deemed to be appropriate) of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee to determine disciplinary hearings for the recent Private Hire prosecution cases

3.      To programme all cases with other work over the next 2 or 3 Licensing and Enforcement Committees.

RESOLVED

Members opted to call 2 special meetings of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee of the full committee.

Tuesday 14 December 2010 at 18.30 hours

Tuesday 14 December 2010 at 18.30 hours