Agenda and minutes
PDF 142 KBVenue: Council Chamber - Council Offices, Browfort, Bath Road, Devizes SN10 2AT
Contact: Marie Gondlach
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Apologies and changes to committee membership To receive any apologies and note the following changes to the committee membership:
Cllr Pip Ridout to replace Cllr Nina Philips as member of the committee.
Cllr Mary Douglas to replace Cllr Pip Ridout as substitute member of the committee.
Cllr Jose Green appointed as Vice Chairman. Minutes: Apologies were received from Cllrs Desna Allen (substituted by Cllr Jon Hubbard), Richard Beattie and Jose Green.
The following changes to the committee membership were noted: · Cllr Pip Ridout to replace Cllr Nina Philips as member of the committee. · Cllr Mary Douglas to replace Cllr Pip Ridout as substitute member of the committee. · Cllr Jose Green appointed as Vice Chairman. |
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Chairman's Announcements Minutes: There were no Chairman’s Announcement. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee. Minutes: There were no Declaration of Interest. |
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Public Participation The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.
Statements
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.
Questions
To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above no later than 5pm on Monday 28 May 2012.
Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.
Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website. Minutes: Two members of the public wished to speak in relation to the Increase of Taxi Tariff - South Zone. The Chairman invited them to do so before the item was discussed and determined by the Committee. |
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Increase of Taxi Tariff - South Zone This report by Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager Safer Communities and Licensing) is to inform the committee of the changes in the current tariff and the main reasons for objection to those changes.
It recommends that the Licensing Committee consider the objections and implement a new taxi tariff to take effect within two months from 5 April 2012, with a recommended implementation date of 7 June 2012. Supporting documents:
Minutes: Firstly the Chairman invited Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager - Safer Communities and Licensing) to clarify how the proposed implementation date of 7 June 2012 would be achieved. She explained that, should any changes be approved to the Taxi Tariff – South Zone, the decision would be published on the Wiltshire Council Website this day and changes to the fare meters, tariff displays, etc would have to be implemented within 21 days.
Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager - Safer Communities and Licensing) then introduced her report which set out the responses to the proposed increase of the taxi tariff in the South area of Wiltshire Council following public consultation
Key points raised included: · The background to this proposal with the first request made in March 2011; · The request to increase the Taxi Tariff – South Zone had been made by the trade; · That after three rounds of consultation Licensing Officers and the trade had been unable to reach a compromise; · That if the system of “extras / surcharges” was kept in the South Zone it would prevent harmonisation of tariffs across the whole of Wiltshire; · That the modified tariff should enable the trade to make a living whilst ensuring that the needs of the customers were taken into account.
She pointed out that the Committee currently had at least three options before it: · To maintain the existing Taxi Tariff for the South Zone; · To implement the Licensing officer’s proposal; · To implement the trade’s proposal.
Following questions from committee members it was established that a fourth option would be available: · To implement a modified tariff in-between the existing, the Licensing officer’s proposal and the trade’s proposal.
Mr David Haynes, representing a considerable group of taxi drivers in the South Zone, gave a presentation to explain the rationale behind the trade’s proposal.
Mr Dave Griffin explained the difficulties faced by taxi drivers in the South Zone, due to both the global financial situation and Salisbury’s particular topography.
Members of the Committee then asked technical questions and a discussion ensued regarding the information contained in the agenda pack, public representations on the issue, further information from the Public Protection Manager and the public speakers’ comments on the day.
After a lengthy debate and taking into account the rationale behind the trade’s proposal but also supporting the concept of harmonised tariffs in the future and discussing the details of a potential “fourth option” it was,
Resolved:
1. To implement the following tariff from 7 June 2012:
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Increase in Taxi fees This report by Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager Safer Communities and Licensing) is to enable the committee to consider the responses to the proposed increase of Hackney Carriage and Private hire fees for the regulated zone of Wiltshire Council following the 28 day public consultation.
It recommends that the Licensing Committee consider the objections and increase the fees to: · £180 for vehicle licenses; · £91 for newly licensed drivers; and · £30 for each knowledge test carried out.
The increase in fees to take effect from 01 July 2012. Supporting documents: Minutes: Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager - Safer Communities and Licensing) introduced the report and pointed out that the licensing of vehicles and drivers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 was a self financing service and Wiltshire Council was legally unable to make a profit from the service. She explained that due to rising costs the fees had to be raised to avoid a reduction in the service given to the trade and potentially placing public safety at risk. She also pointed out that the proposed increased fee for vehicle licences was still £70 cheaper than they had been for the North zone proprietors before the formation of Wiltshire Council.
After a short debate it was,
Resolved:
To increase the fees, with effect from 01 July 2012, to: · £180 for vehicle licenses; · £91 for newly licensed drivers; and · £30 for each knowledge test carried out. |
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Change to Scheme of Delegation This report by Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager Safer Communities and Licensing) informs members of the additions and amendments necessary to the scheme of delegation specifically to licensing in the Constitution due to changes in the primary legislation.
It is recommended that the Licensing Committee approve the additions and amendments to the scheme of delegation as detailed within this report and recommends them to Council for its approval Supporting documents:
Minutes: Kate Golledge (Public Protection Manager - Safer Communities and Licensing) introduced the report and explained that due to changes in the primary legislation additions and amendments needed to be made to the scheme of delegation in relation to the Licensing Act 2003 and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 as amended by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Members sought and were offered reassurance that issues that had been brought to sub-committees under the previous scheme of delegation would still be considered by sub-committees.
After a short debate it was,
Resolved:
1. To approve the additions and amendments (highlighted in bold in the table) to the scheme of delegation as attached to these minutes.
2. To commend the changes in the scheme specific to the Licensing committee to Full Council on 10 July. |
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Dates of Future Committee Meetings Members are asked to note the future meetings of the Licensing Committee, all to commence at 10.30am:
Friday 14 September 2012 - Committee Room A, Monkton Park, Chippenham
Monday 12 November 2012 – Council Chamber, Monkton Park, Chippenham Minutes: The dates of the next meetings were confirmed as follows all to commence at 10.30am:
Friday 14 September 2012 - Committee Room A, Monkton Park, Chippenham
Monday 12 November 2012 – Council Chamber, Monkton Park, Chippenham
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Urgent Items 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. Minutes: There were no urgent items. |