No apologies for absence were received.

There were no substitute members.

The Chairman indicated that in his opinion the issues arising out of a recent article in the Kent Messenger regarding hackney carriages and private hire vehicles should be considered by the Committee as they were urgent and requiring prompt action and the article had appeared after the papers for the meeting had been finalised.

Councillor Beerling indicated that he wished to speak in respect of the urgent item.

There were no disclosures.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That the items on Part II of the Agenda be taken in private as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 April and the Minutes (Parts I and II) of the meeting held on 16 July be approved as a correct record and signed.

The committee considered the issues arising out of the recent KM article which was implying that private hire firms were flaunting licensing regulations by touting for trade.

Councillor Beerling addressed the committee about the work he had done in conjunction with the police regarding this matter.  In particular he highlighted his concerns on the impact on the business of the licensed hackney carriage trade and safety to passengers by using a private hire vehicle which had not been booked through the operator which meant they were not covered by the insurance on the vehicle.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Democratic Services Manager submit a detailed report on this matter to the next meeting of the committee covering the issues raised by Councillor Beerling and the issue of enforcement.

(2)  That the Committees thanks be given to Sue Lee for her excellent work in this area.

The Committee considered the report of the Democratic Services Manager asking it to consider a further revision to the Street Trading Consent Policy relating to additional applications for an agreed site.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the street trading consent policy be amended, for consultation purposes, so that additional applications for an agreed site for street trading would be issued in the exact terms of the first application subject only to receipt of a satisfactory Police check which determines good character and the right to work in the United Kingdom.

(2)  That the above be incorporated within the consultation of the previously agreed changes.

(3)  That the Democratic Services Manager report back to the committee, including a risk analysis, of a change to the policy that would allow multiple sites within controlled areas.

The committee considered the report of the Democratic Services Manager on the delegation of the functions of the committee in relation to Licensing matters.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the Democratic Services Manager present a quarterly statistical

report to the committee.

(3)  That the Democratic Services Manager update the committee on the

current position relating to the partnership at each meeting.

6.30 p.m. to 8.10 p.m.