Agenda and minutes

None.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

Councillor M H Charlesworth declared a non-pecuniary interest with regard to item 7 of the agenda, insofar as he carries on a mobile food business registered with the Council.

To read, confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting of the previous Committee held on 11 October 2018 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To read, confirm and note the Action List arising from the previous meeting.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Action List arising from the meeting of the previous Committee held on 11 October 2018 be read, confirmed and noted.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule 24 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

Report of the Acting Environmental Health Team Leader

The Committee gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 2 – 5 of the agenda pack) which asked it to note the work undertaken by the Environmental Health Section during the third quarter of 2018/19.

The Committee was advised that there had been no increase in fly-tipping incidents over the past 12-months nor was there any evidence of any incident being directly attributable to/since the introduction of itemised charging for the disposal of non-household items at the Oadby Waste Site (as of April 2016).

No Fixed Penalty Notices were reported to have been issued under the Public Space Protection Order or for fly-tipping or littering during the third quarter. This was due to either being no known contraventions or a lack of evidence identifying those persons responsible. However, Officers were confident that the ongoing use of portable cameras in problem areas would assist in future detection and prevention.

The Committee was informed that the issues reported regarding accumulations of litter on/around privately-owned commercial premises in Wigston Town Centre continued to be relayed on to the relevant premises’ management and/or owners who were being encouraged to undertake more regular monitoring and cleaning.

The Chair requested that drone and model aircraft usage be included as a standing item in all subsequent quarterly report updates to the Committee.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the report be noted.

Report of the Senior Licensing & Enforcement Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 6 – 11 of the agenda pack) which asked it to note the work undertaken by the Licensing Section during the third quarter of 2018/19.

The Committee reiterated its concerns regarding the increasingly high number of combined Hackney Carriage / Private Hire (HC/PV) drivers’ licence applications continuing to be received by/for a Council of a relatively small administrative area.

The Committee was advised that no limit on the number of HC/PV drivers’ licences issued could be enforced as the Council was statutorily obliged to grant to any person a licence if it was satisfied that the applicant was a ‘fit and proper person’. However, a number of measures to strengthen existing testing processes were to be introduced imminently in order to filter out a higher calibre of licenced drivers.

The Committee was also advised that the possible introduction of a saturation policy to limit the number of hackney carriage vehicles would be difficult to implement given the robust evidence-base needed to withstand any potential challenge.

The Chair requested that any matters pertinent to the Borough as raised at the Leicestershire & Rutland Licensing Forum be reported back to the Committee.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the report and appendix be noted.

The press and public are likely to be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Head of Law & Governance / Monitoring Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 12 - 16) which asked it to note the Environmental Health and Licensing Service Review Outcomes for January 2019.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the report be noted.