Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs Gibson.

It was noted that Councillor Black was substituting for Councillor Mrs Gibson.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the Items on the Agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 October 2013 and the Minutes (Part II) of the meeting held on 24 June 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no issues to be discussed.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services regarding a request from the Maidstone Taxi Proprietor Association for a fare increase.

RESOLVED:

a)  That the table of fares, as set out in Appendix C to the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services, be agreed; and

b)  That the Head of Housing and Community Services be given delegated authority to give public notice of the Council’s intention to fix this table of fares for hackney Carriage vehicles in accordance with Section 65(2) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to take effect from 7 December 2013.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services regarding setting the remaining fee levels in respect of Scrap Metal Licensing.

RESOLVED:  That the additional fees for Scrap Metal Licensing, as set out below, be agreed:-

Variations – Collector to Site Licence (3 years)   £225.00

  Site to Collectors Licence (3 years)  £130.00

Change of Site Manager  £175.00

Minor Administrative change  £ 31.00

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services regarding the content of a letter received from A2Z Licensing on 29 August 2013 in respect of the Hackney Carriage rank at Maidstone East Station.

RESOLVED:

a)  That the report be noted;

b)  That a review of the current Hackney Carriage rank provisions within the Borough be initiated; and

c)  That the report on the Hackney Carriage Unmet Demand Survey be considered at this meeting.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities regarding the results of the Unmet Demand Survey carried out by Amey in respect of the number of Hackney Carriage licences in Maidstone.

The Committee were satisfied from the evidence in the report that there is no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriages in Maidstone. It was considered that there is no compelling reason to change the current number of hackney carriage proprietors’ licences in Maidstone.

RESOLVED:

a)  That maintaining the current level of Hackney Carriage licences on the basis that there is no significant unmet demand for hackney Carriages locally be agreed; and

b)  That Officers report back to the next meeting of the Committee on the other recommendations within the survey.

6.45 p.m. to 7.13 p.m.