Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous Licensing Committee meeting held on 8^th September 2020.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meetings held on 18^th August 2020.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 8^th September 2020 were approved as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meetings held on 18th August 2020 were approved as a correct and would be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dave Bulmer and Martin Wale.

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.

Members noted that the applicant for Item 7 – Permission to apply for a non-wheelchair accessible Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence would address the Committee at the time the item was discussed.

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

The Specialist – Licensing presented the report. She asked members to agree that all future requests for non-wheelchair accessible vehicles that are less than 5 years old could be approved by officers without the need to refer to committee, unless the percentage of hackney carriage vehicles that are wheelchair accessible falls to 30%.  She explained that if and when the percentage reduced to 30% any requests would be referred to the Licensing Committee for a decision.

There being no discussion or questions raised, members were content to agree the recommendations set out in the report.

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 (to replace his existing licensed vehicle) which is less than 5 years old and not wheelchair accessible.

This item was taken prior to Agenda Item 6.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Licensing Committee would be held on Tuesday 9^th March 2021 at 10.00am.