The Committee considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services regarding the Licensing Partnership Annual Report.

In response to a question, Members were informed that Licensing is not allowed to make a profit and as the Government set the fees there is a shortfall which the Council subsidises.  The Council is striving to cut costs to help reduce this shortfall.  The Government has been consistently lobbied about this by Authorities and the Local Government Association and it is hoped that forthcoming changes to the Licensing Act 2003 will make provision for authorities to set their own fees, based on actual cost.

Members were also informed that the administration of private hire operators’ licences had now moved to Sevenoaks and the administration of driver and vehicle licences should move to Sevenoaks over the next 2-3 months.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.