Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil.

Contact: Jo Morris, Case Services Officer (Support Services) - 01935 462055  Email: jo.morris@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

38.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 28th November 2018

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 28th November 2018 were signed as a correct record of the proceedings. 

39.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jason Baker, Nigel Gage, Val Keitch, Alan Smith, Linda Vijeh and Martin Wale.

40.

Declarations of Interest

In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (as amended 26 February 2015), which includes all the provisions relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI), personal and prejudicial interests, Members are asked to declare any DPI and also any personal interests (and whether or not such personal interests are also "prejudicial") in relation to any matter on the Agenda for this meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

41.

Public Participation at Committees

a)    Questions/comments from members of the public

This is a chance for members of the public and representatives of Parish/Town Councils to participate in the meeting by asking questions, making comments and raising matters of concern.

Minutes:

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

42.

Department for Transport Consultation on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Minutes:

The Licensing Specialist introduced the report and explained that the Department of Transport were seeking views on proposed statutory guidance to taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing authorities.  The reason for the consultation was to introduce guidance to ensure that Licensing Authorities help to safeguard members of the public (especially those under 18 years and vulnerable adults) when using taxi or private hire vehicles.

 

Members participated in answering the 30 questions contained within the consultation and agreed for their responses to be sent to the Department of Transport.

 

Members agreed to defer recommendation 4 until the next appropriate meeting of the Licensing Committee by which time the Department of Transport may have issued their final recommendations.

 

RESOLVED:

(1)

That members participated in answering the 30 questions contained within the consultation.

 

(2)

That where there were opposing answers to the questions the response to be given to the Department of Transport will be that of the majority.

 

(3)

That members responses to the consultation be sent to the Department of Transport by the closing date of 11.45 on 22 April 2019.

 

(4)

That members defer the decision to the next appropriate meeting on whether to agree to update the South Somerset Council Taxi and Private Hire Policy to reflect the new statutory guidance once the provision is known and any other changes in legislation which may affect it.

 

43.

Date of Next Meeting pdf icon PDF 27 KB

Minutes:

Members noted that the next meeting of the Licensing Committee would be held on Tuesday 11th June 2019 at 10.00am at the Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman thanked those members who would be standing down in May for their contribution to the Licensing Committee.