Agenda and minutes

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th June 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th June 2012 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no questions from members of the public.

Mr Chas Rodgers addressed the Committee on behalf of Mr Zeya Ahmed, Chair of the Gloucester Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association.  Mr Rodgers introduced himself as the longest serving hackney carriage driver in Gloucester and proceeded to read out an email from Mr Ahmed which raised concerns about a proposal to freeze taxi tariffs and queried the way the formula had been drawn up and the regional comparisons made.  Mr Rodgers raised an issue concerning the 10 working days which the Council had imposed for licence renewals and pointed out that this caused financial hardship to taxi drivers.  Mr Rodgers then alluded to the pedestrianisation of the Gate Streets which had affected the trade’s business.  Mr Rodgers concluded his deputation by highlighting the fact that running costs for the trade were cheaper in Cheltenham and asked the Committee to reconsider any proposals to freeze the tariffs.

The Chair thanked Mr Rodgers for his deputation.

Report of the Corporate Director for Services and Neighbourhoods

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager presented the Committee with a report on the revised Gambling Act Statement of Principles.

The Committee was advised that the City Council was obliged to produce, consult on, and publish, a Statement of Principles in accordance with Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 at least every three years and that a revised Statement of Principles would need to be published to take effect from 31^st January 2013.

Members noted that the document had been updated with some minor amendments and had been sent out to the relevant stakeholders for consultation during the period 20^th June 2012 to 7^th September 2012.  At the time of publication of the report one response had been received from Gloucester Fire and Rescue Service who stated they did not have any comments to make.  Since the closing of the consultation period on 7^th September 2012 no further responses had been received.

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager referred Members to section 5 ‘Bingo Premises’ in the draft Statement where there had been a recent change in legislation relating to the number of category B3 gaming machines which could be permitted on these premises.  Members agreed that this paragraph would now be amended to reflect this change.

The Committee was advised that the report would be further updated to include the details of the recent consultation before being submitted to full Council.

Members were requested to approve the revised Gambling Act Statement of Principles and to recommend that it be adopted by full Council on 29^th November 2012.

Councillor Witts pointed out that one of the consultees referred to in the document was no longer in existence.  The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager agreed to revise the document.

RESOLVED

1.         That the revised Gambling Act Statement of Principles be approved subject to the amendments agreed by the Committee.

2.         That Council be recommended to approve and adopt the revised Gambling Act Statement of Principles.

Report by the Corporate Director of Services and Neighbourhoods

The Group Manager, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services, briefed the Committee on a report prepared by the Health and Safety Service Manager on Health, Work and Well-Being which outlined work which had been carried out on these projects within Gloucester City Council and updated Members on proposals for future work in this regard.

The Committee was asked to note the set of standards outlined in the report which were intended to improve the health and well-being of Gloucester City Council employees and to note future plans to encourage partners and businesses in Gloucester to sign up to the scheme.

Members were informed that Health, Work and Well-Being was a cross-government initiative to protect and improve the health and well-being of working age people.  Some examples of successful well-being initiatives that had been implemented in other organisations were highlighted in the report.

The Group Manager, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services, explained the benefits of signing up to the Workplace Well-being Charter using the self-assessment standards as a tool to achieve the ultimate aim of ‘excellence’ in all areas.

Councillor Tracey queried the cost and resource implications of the scheme.  The Group Manager, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services, indicated that signing up to the Charter should not be costly and that with a review of policies and the working environment the commitment stage would be easy to achieve.

Councillor Hanman stressed the importance of putting employees first.

The Committee welcomed the report.

RESOLVED

That the City Council signs up to the Workplace Well-being Charter and endorses future work to encourage businesses within the City to do the same.

Report of the Corporate Director for Services and Neighbourhoods

Members were presented with an update on key licensing activities carried out in the last quarter.  Details of future work and the updated Forward Work Plan to June 2015 were also included in the report. The following matters were discussed by the Committee:-

·         Councillors Toleman and Randle gave Members some further background on the recent Licensing and Enforcement Sub-Committee disciplinary hearing and stressed the importance of having good liaison with the Police.

·         The Committee discussed the proposal to have a new DPPO in the Barton and Tredworth Ward and noted this would cover car parks and public open spaces within the area.

·         The introduction of the Private Hire Test.  In response to a candidate identity query from Councillor Randle, the Food Safety and Licensing Services Manager confirmed that drivers were required to provide photo ID when taking a test.  The Chair thanked the Food Safety and Licensing Services Manager for the successful implementation of the scheme.

·         Annual review of Taxi Tariffs.  The Committee was advised that apart from the deputation received from Mr Chas Rodgers that no response had been received from the Hackney Carriage Association to the proposal to freeze the tariffs following an annual review.  Councillor Toleman requested clarification on how the formula had been evaluated in view of the deputation by Mr Rodgers.  The Food Safety and Licensing Services Manager indicated that she would contact Mr Rodgers to seek a further explanation on the issues that he had raised.  Members were briefed on the background to Mr Rodgers’ comment about the new policy for 10 working days for the re-issue of licences.  This procedure had been adopted to improve the customer service experience and to streamline procedures, meaning that drivers only needed to visit the Council offices once as opposed to making three visits as had occurred in the past.  Payment could still be made by BACS and drivers had the option to pay over the phone.  Feedback from drivers had evidenced that they were happy with the new procedures.  The Chair concluded the debate on this topic by reminding Members that there would be full consultation with every taxi driver on the findings of the review before a report was presented to the December Licensing and Enforcement Committee on the taxi tariffs. 

·         Taxi Ranks Review.  Councillor Lugg asked for a map showing the location of the ranks.  The Food Safety and Licensing Services Manager confirmed that she intended to upload this to the City Council’s website.

·         Eastgate Street Strategic Night Safe Group.  The Group Manager for Environmental Health and Regulatory Services briefed the Committee on the first meeting of this multi-agency group which had occurred on 6^th September 2012.  She apologized that not all Members had been invited.  Councillors Toleman and Randle had attended this meeting as well as Cabinet Member Councillor Dallimore.  Gloucestershire Highways had not attended the meeting and Councillor Dallimore had requested a separate meeting to discuss issues which could not be resolved in their absence.  One of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Tuesday, 11^th December 2012 at 6.30 p.m.

Tuesday 11^th December 2012 at 18.30 hours.