Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Richard Beattie, Peggy Dow, Rod Eaton, Jose Green, Mark Griffiths, Jon Hubbard and Jonathon Seed.  Councillor Jacqui Lay was substituting for Councillor Eaton and Councillor Trevor Carbin for Councillor Hubbard.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 30 November 2010 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2010 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2010.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman made an announcement as follows:

As a result of the recent council-wide management review there has been a change in staffing in the licensing team managers. Kate Golledge remains the Licensing Manager for the North and West hubs. Sam Colley will be leaving the council at the end of January, and Rob Draper has been appointed as the Licensing Manager for the South and East hubs. Rob was previously Environmental Protection Team Manager for the South and East hubs.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question should give written notice (including details of any question) to the officer named above by 5.00pm on Monday 10 January 2011.

The Chairman briefed members of the Committee and public present on the rules on public participation.

There was one member of the public wishing to speak in relation to item 7 of the agenda, and who was invited to do so before the item was discussed and determined by the Committee.

To receive the minutes of the following Licensing Sub-Committee:

Northern Area

23.11.2010

The Committee received the Minutes of the Northern Area Licensing Sub-Committee held on 23 November 2010.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Northern Area Licensing Sub-Committee held on 23 November 2010.

The report of Kate Golledge, (Licensing Team Leader North and West Wiltshire) considers the responses to the proposed increase of the taxi tariff in the North area of Wiltshire Council following public consultation.

Kate Golledge (Licensing Manager, North and West) introduced her report which set out the responses to the proposed increase of the taxi tariff in the Northern Wiltshire Council administrative area following public consultation.

Key points raised included:

·        Current disparities in tariffs between Northern and other areas;

·        Last revision to Northern area tariff was in 2008, with significant increases in fleet running costs subsequently, e.g. fuel prices, VAT;

·        Rationale for the proposed tariff in its present form;

·        Consultation undertaken in developing the proposal;

·        Long-term aim of harmonising the four areas’ tariff systems; and

·        Risk of legal challenge to Council if no solution reached by March 2011.

Mr Michael Simpkins, owner of 24/7 Taxis, based in Corsham, spoke in support of the proposed new tariff.

Members of the Committee then asked technical questions and a discussion ensued regarding the information contained in the agenda pack, subsequent public representations on the issue, further information from the Licensing Manager and the public speaker’s comments on the day.

The motion to approve the officer’s recommendation in its unchanged form was put to the vote and it was,

Resolved:

That the Committee agree to implement the revised tariff detailed below, to come into force as of 14 February 2011.

Any other items of business, which in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency. Urgent items of a confidential nature may be considered under Part II of this agenda.

There were no urgent items.