Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous Licensing meeting held on 14^th January 2020.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meetings held on the 9^th March 2020, 25^th June 2020, 4^th August 2020 and 17^th August 2020.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 14^th January 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the Licensing Sub Committees held on 9^th March 2020, 25^th June 2020, 4^th August 2020 and 17^th August 2020 were approved as a correct and signed by the Chairman.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jenny Kenton.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

A member of the public addressed the committee and raised concern regarding the Royal Marine Inn in Yeovil.  As a resident of nearby Charlton Close, he reported that tables and chairs had been placed in the car park area and were creating a noise issue and smoke pollution to local residents.  He advised that the Police had also attended several incidences at the premises since it had reopened.  He noted that the premises had a beer garden and did not believe it was necessary to use the car park as an extra seating area which was close to neighbouring properties.  He concluded that the local ward member was aware of the situation.

In response, the Chairman noted the concerns raised which had also been raised at the Area South Committee the previous week.  He advised that an officer from Environmental Health had spoken to the landlord who advised that the tables had been positioned in the area covered by CCTV which was a licensing and police requirement.

The ward member said that the situation was unacceptable and requested that a meeting be held with officers at the premises as soon as possible.

The Lead Specialist – Environment agreed to look into the situation.

The Specialist – Licensing presented the report.  She advised that Councils were required to implement the Statutory Taxi and Private Vehicle Standards as part of their normal procedures unless there were compelling reasons not to. She explained that the standards set out a number of new and amended practices such as keeping a record of any licences that had been refused, working with the Police to update them on any action that the Council had taken in relation to licences, drivers being subject to 6 monthly Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, annual basic disclosure required for vehicle applicants and private hire operator applicants and licence holders and the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles.

The Lead Specialist – Environmental Health said that members were being asked to approve work to create a Somerset Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.  She updated that Sedgemoor District Council had recently updated their policy and were currently going through a consultation process.  The other districts would use the information from the consultation process to inform any changes and would look as a whole group to use the revised policy and align all the districts to the same policy. 

She referred to the wheelchair accessible vehicle part of the policy and advised that Sedgemoor District Council had proposed to fix a number of wheelchair accessible vehicles for hackney carriages and would allow those to be replaced going forward but the figure would be capped.  For example, if a driver currently had a non-wheelchair accessible vehicle and wished to replace it with a new one they would be allowed to do so but the old licence would be surrendered and replaced with a new one for a non-wheelchair vehicle.  As those licences lapsed they would not be replaced and the numbers would gradually be reduced with a move towards wheelchair accessible vehicles only but would allow those with non-wheelchair accessible vehicles to continue to operate.  Any proposed changes to the policy would be subject to full consultation within each district area.

In response to questions raised, members were informed of the following:

·         Vehicles would be defined as being useable by wheelchair users and this could be further refined if two types of vehicle were required and different types of wheelchair accessibility vehicles could be incorporated into the policy;

·         Private hire vehicles would have no restrictions;

·         It was the intention to have a Somerset-wide Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy that each district had signed up to but would have to go through the political process for each individual district.  If this was not achievable, each district could have their own policy but would be aligned to the other district policies;

·         The licensing service continued to look for efficiencies in delivering the service.   The increase in work around checking disclosures and barring was being looked at with the other Somerset authorities with a view to partners undertaking some of the checks; 

·         Drivers paid the cost of the criminal records check and could also subscribe  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

This item was considered in closed session.

The Committee was addressed by the applicant who explained the reasons for his request.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for a vehicle (in addition to his current licensed vehicle) which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

Members considered the request submitted by the applicant outlined in the agenda report.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for two vehicles (one would replace an existing licensed vehicle and one would be an additional vehicle) which are less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

The Committee was addressed by the applicant who explained the reasons for his request.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for a vehicle which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

Members considered the request submitted by the applicant outlined in the agenda report.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for a vehicle (to replace a vehicle which was licensed for private hire) which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

The Committee was addressed by the applicant who explained the reasons for his request.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for a vehicle which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

Members considered the request submitted by the applicant outlined in the agenda report.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for a vehicle (in addition to the current licensed wheelchair accessible vehicle) which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

Members considered the request submitted by the applicant outlined in the agenda report and the subsequent statement submitted by the applicant which was read to members at the meeting by the Licensing Specialist.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for two vehicles which are less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

Members considered the request submitted by the applicant outlined in the agenda report.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application to licence a vehicle as a Hackney Carriage (to replace one of the existing licensed vehicles) which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

Members considered the request submitted by the applicant outlined in the agenda report.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi company to submit applications for six vehicle licences which are less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was considered in closed session.

The Committee was addressed by the applicant who explained the reasons for his request.

Members unanimously approved the request to allow the taxi driver to submit an application for a vehicle (in addition to the existing licensed vehicle) which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

The Date of the next scheduled Licencing Meeting will be held on Tuesday 8^th December 2020 commencing at 10.00am.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Licensing Committee would be held on Tuesday 8^th December 2020 at 10.00am.