In accordance with Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman advised the Committee she had agreed to accept an urgent matter - ‘Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing: Licence Fees 2015/16.’

Due to an administrative error the report missed publication, however the fees needed to go out to consultation before a decision could be taken at the next meeting of the Licensing Committee.

The urgent matter was listed as Agenda Item 7 but taken after Agenda Item 5 with the agreement of the Committee.

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 September 2015, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 29 September 2015, be approved and signed as the Chairman as correct records.

Any interests not already registered

No additional declarations of interest were made.

There were none.

The Committee considered a draft policy which had been prepared with members of the Taxi Liaison Group with views sought on the Local Authority’s strategy to improve the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles within the Hackney Carriage fleet.  At the Licensing Committee on 29 September 2015, Members had approved consultation with the taxi trade, the Access Group for Sevenoaks District and residents of the District via the Council’s website.  The draft taxi licensing policy had been consulted on from 12 October until 11 December 2015.  The Council was required to regularly review its Taxi Licensing Policy and the last policy had been published in January 2012.  The report summarised the responses received and made recommendations for the Committee to propose to full Council on 16 February 2016 regarding adoption of the policy. The Licensing Partnership Manager highlighted a typographical mistake.

Members particularly considered the wording of Section 4.5 with regards to increasing the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles.  The Chairman moved the recommendation as amended by paragraph 30 (a) and (b) of the report which was debated.  For legal clarification the wording at paragraph 30 (a) of the report was amended to read ‘vehicles requiring a new plate’ rather than ‘licenses’.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy be recommended for adoption by Full Council and reviewed by the Committee in September 2017, subject to the following amendments

i)          in order to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles that form part of the fleet for Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed by Sevenoaks District Council, Section 4.5 to include

(a)         from 1st September 2016 all additional hackney carriage vehicles requiring a new plate, must be wheelchair accessible. That is those that require the issue of a new Hackney Carriage plate number. (This does not apply to replacement vehicles, change of ownership of vehicles or vehicles that are replacing damaged vehicles) and

(b)         from 1st January 2018 all vehicles that reach the end of their life with respect to being eligible for licensing as a licensed vehicle (i.e. 10 years since the date of its first registration) must be replaced by a wheelchair accessible vehicle. (This does not apply to change of ownership of vehicles or vehicles that are replacing damaged vehicles or a total loss.); and

ii)        ‘1500cc’ be corrected to read ‘1400cc’ at Appendix 5B, paragraph 5 under Environmental Considerations of the draft policy.

Reason for urgency:

Due to an administrative error the report missed publication, however the fees need to go out to consultation before a decision can be taken at the next meeting of the Licensing Committee and the Chairman has therefore agreed to take it as an urgent matter.

Members considered the report which proposed fees for consultation with the taxi trade. The proposed fees maintained a ‘self financing’ position for the service, in accordance with the Council’s Service and Budget Plan. A fees model, similar to the one used to first set the Gambling Act fees in 2007 had been used. 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the the fee levels as set out in paragraph 9 of the report be approved for consultation with the taxi trade.

Members considered a report which set out the new proposed fee structure which ensured that the licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues maintained a ‘self financing’ position for the service, in accordance with the Council’s Service and Budget Plan.  A fees model, similar to the one used to first set the Gambling Act fees in 2007 had been used. 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That it be recommended to Full Council to approve the appropriate fee levels as £3,100 for a new or renewal application, and £1,625 for transfer of an application.

Members considered a report which set out the new proposed fee structure which ensured that the licensing of Gambling premises maintained a ‘self financing’ position for the service, in accordance with the Council’s Service and Budget Plan. A fees model, similar to the one used to first set the Gambling Act fees in 2007 was used. 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That it be recommended to full Council to approve the appropriate fees from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, as set out below