Decision details

CHANGES TO CONSTITUTIONAL MAKE UP AND FREQUENCY OF LICENSING AND SAFETY PANEL MEETINGS/DAYTIME MEETINGS

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

                    The Licensing Unit Manager presented a report by the Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services), which explained that the consideration of driver and new Applicants’ misdemeanours form a large percentage of business brought before the Licensing and Safety Panel.  A number of Panel meetings this municipal year have exceeded 10.00 pm and resulted in the suspension of standing orders and Officers have been asked to consider options for refining procedures and reducing the amount of business placed before the Panel in one meeting.

 

                     At present, the Council Constitution requires the Licensing and Safety Panel determine driver, vehicle and operator licence applications where Applicants do not comply with the relevant criteria or where there are grounds for refusal of an application.

 

                     Currently the Council Constitution at Article 8 allows for the appointment of regulatory and non-executive Committees set out in part 3 of the Constitution and the membership of the Licensing and Safety Panel as:

 

§  13 members of the Authority to form a politically balanced Committee where possible;

§  3 members of full Panel to be selected to form politically balanced Licensing Hearings Panels where possible to deal with individual applications for licences under the Licensing Act 2003.

 

                     Currently all matters relating to public and private hire are heard at 6 weekly meetings, in the evening, starting at 7.00 pm, before a full politically balanced Committee where possible. 

 

                     It is proposed that 3 member politically balanced Panels, where possible, be permitted to sit and hear matters relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licences included in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and to sit during the normal working day, i.e. Monday – Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm.

 

 Full member Licensing and Safety Panel meetings will continue to be scheduled on 6 weekly intervals and continue to meet in the evenings and will consider matters of Policy as well as relevant Public and Private Hire matters needed to be considered where the driver/operator/vehicle owner would prefer to be heard at an evening meeting to allow for working arrangements or carer responsibilities to be taken into consideration. 

 

 Any matter to be determined immediately on the grounds of it being in the interest of Public safety would continue to be determined through existing delegations.

 

 Various questions were asked from the members of the Licensing and Safety Panel in respect of availability of members, political balance, how many additional meetings and which issues would be considered at these meeting.

It was agreed:

 

To accept the proposals, in whole and seek Council approval with regard to altering the frequency of and Constitution of Licencing and Safety Panel meetings dealing with Hackney Carriage and Private Hire matters.

 

 

Publication date: 13/03/2019

Date of decision: 10/01/2019

Decided at meeting: 10/01/2019 - Licensing and Safety Committee

Accompanying Documents: