MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Licensing Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2013
|
Present: |
Councillor Parvin (Chairman), and Councillors Barned, Mrs Gooch, Mrs Hinder, Mrs Joy, B Mortimer, Naghi, Mrs Parvin and Yates |
81. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Gibson and Mrs Grigg.
82. Notification of Substitute Members
There were no Substitute Members.
83. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
84. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
85. Disclosures of Lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
86. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the Part II Items on the Agenda be taken in private as proposed.
87. Minutes
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meetings held on 22 October, 30 October and 12 November 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed.
88. Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Issues (if any)
There were no issued to be raised.
89. BIS Consultation Paper on Street Trading and Pedlary Laws
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services regarding proposed responses to a consultation paper on Street Trading and Pedlary Laws.
RESOLVED:
1. That the proposed response to the consultation paper on Street Trading and Pedlar Laws, as set out in Appendix B to the report of the Head of Democratic Services, be approved for submission to the Department for Business Innovation & Skills.
2. That the documents for inclusion at responses 15.1, 16 and 17 be drafted by parliamentary agents instructed by the Council and delegated authority to submit the recommended wording be given to the Head of Democratic Services.
90. Street Trading Policy
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services regarding a proposed change in the fee structure for short term consents to individual street traders seeking to trade for only a few days within a year.
Members sought some clarification from the Head of Democratic Services regarding the consultation and the charges and were in favour of the recommendations.
RESOLVED:
1. That consideration be given to the current fee structure for Farmers Markets being extended to include applications for individual stalls and the pricing being as set out as below:-
Up to twelve days - £30
Thirteen to twenty three days - £185
Twenty four days and more - £385
2. That, in light of the proposed significant change to treatment of consent applications which would result from the proposed change in the fee structure set out above, the proposal for change be subject to a 4 week consultation and that the matter be reported back to committee if any objection is received, otherwise the change be implemented from 1 April 2013 by the Head of Democratic Services.
91. Sexual Entertainment Venue, 87-88 Bank Street
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services regarding a request from Century Buildings (Rochester) Ltd to reconsider the decision to refuse the Sexual Entertainment Venue application for part of the premises at 87-88 Bank Street, Maidstone.
Members asked that their thanks to Mrs Bolas, Legal Adviser, for her excellent letter be recorded.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
92. Dress Code for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services regarding a consultation on a proposed voluntary dress code for hackney carriage and private hire drivers.
Mr Conyan addressed the Committee in support of the recommendations, although asked that the Committee considered including Jeans as permitted clothing.
RESOLVED: That the Head of Democratic Services consult with the Hackney Carriage Association, the representatives of the Private Hire Operators and individual drivers about the introduction of a voluntary dress code on the basis of the draft set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Democratic Services with the addition of Jeans listed as appropriate clothing.
93. Exclusion of the Public from the Meeting
RESOLVED: That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reasons specified, having applied the Public Interest Test:-
Head of Schedule 12A and Brief Description
Exempt Appendix to the Report of the Head 5 = Legal
Of Democratic Services – Dress Code for
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers
94. Dress Code for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers
The Committee considered the Exempt Appendix setting out legal advice with regard to a dress code for Hackney Carriage Drivers.
A Member raised some typographical and presentation errors in the Hackney Carriage Byelaws.
95. Duration of Meeting
6.30 p.m. to 7.16 p.m.