Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors McLoughlin and Mortimer.

The following Substitute Members were noted:

·  Councillor Ring for Councillor McLoughlin

·  Councillor Vizzard for Councillor Mortimer

The Chairman, in her opinion, agreed to take the following report as an urgent item as the figures used in the report could not be calculated until the policy was in place:

Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services – Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing: Licence Fees and Chargs Fees 2016/17

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Meeting held on 26 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed.

Claire Perry, Licensing Partnership Manager, introduced the report.

The Committee was told that the act came into force three years ago, and the fees now recommended were founded on an evidence based examination of the cost of the process.

In response to questions it was explained that:

The Council is legally obliged to set licensing fees on a cost recovery basis, and cannot make a profit from the service.

Each authority will have different costs due to differences between processes.

It was proposed by Councillor Greer, seconded by Councillor Parvin and

RESOLVED:

1)  That more freedom in the setting of licensing fees and charges be sought from central Government by the Council.

Voting:

For: 12   Against: 0  Abstain: 0

2)  That the fees levels as set out in paragraph 2.23 of the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be approved for implementation on 1 April 2016.

Voting:

For: 12  Against: 0  Abstain: 0

The Licensing Partnership Manager, Claire Perry, presented the report detailing the cost of processing licence fees for sexual entertainment venues.

Members were advised that the fee for licence renewals has increased as the process cost as much as a new application to process.

RESOLVED: That the fee levels as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be approved for implementation on 1 April 2016.

Voting:

For: 12  Against: 0  Abstain: 0

Claire Perry, Licensing Partnership Manager, presented the report which set out proposed fees and charges for licences under the gambling act.

It was explained that some of the fees had reached the maximum that could be charged.

RESOLVED: That the fee levels as set out in Appendix A of the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be approved for implementation on 1 April 2016.

For: 12  Against: 0  Abstain: 0

The Licensing Partnership Manager, Claire Perry, spoke to the report proposing fees for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing.

It was explained that:

·  The Deregulation Act stated that local authorities must issue licenses for up to five year terms.

·  Conversations with the taxi trade had raised the issue that five year terms may be considered prohibitive by new drivers.

·  To ensure flexibility and affordability there would be options of one year, three year and five year terms. This would bring Maidstone BC in line with the other licensing partnership authorities.

In response to questions the Committee was advised that:

·  The Hackney Carriage trade had requested replacement of the monitor and would contribute to the cost of this. This has been included in the vehicle costs.

·  The monitor was not part of Maidstone town centre’s CCTV and so the Council were not in a position to replace this.

RESOLVED: That the fee levels as set out in Appendix A of the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be approved for implementation on 1 April 2016.

Voting:

For: 12  Against: 0  Abstain: 0

6.31 p.m. to 7.04 p.m.