Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor H E Darling.

To appoint substitute Members in accordance with Rule 26 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Substitution Procedure Rules.

Councillor J K Ford substituted for Councillor H E Darling.

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 J K Ford declared a non-pecuniary interest with regard to item 8 of the agenda, insofar as he was director of a company which was inspected by the Council.

To read, confirm and approve the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 March 2025 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

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

None.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule(s) 11 and 12 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

Report of the Senior Strategic Development Manager

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 5 – 11 of the agenda reports pack), which highlighted the plan for delivering the Food Service for the current year and to report the progress on 2024/25.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and appendix be noted.

Report of the Senior Strategic Development Manager

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 12 – 66 of the agenda reports pack), which proposed that the Council update its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy to incorporate the latest guidance from the Institute of Licensing and to update the Council’s penalty points scheme.

Councillor Kaufman requested that it be recorded he was in favour of there being a target date set for a proportion of hackney carriages in the Borough to be wheelchair accessible, such as when vehicles are due for replacement. Officers advised that there are some incentives in place for hackney carriages to be wheelchair accessible, such as a 25% discount on fees, and advised that this may be counterproductive and result in more drivers opting for private hire licenses rather than hackney carriage licenses. Officers also advised that some larger taxis are in fact wheelchair accessible, despite not being categorised as such.

It was moved by the Vice-Chair, seconded by Councillor R H Adams, and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)            That the Institute of Licensing’s (IOL) guidance entitled ‘Guidance on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees in the hackney carriage and private hire industry’ (2024) be adopted;

ii)           The Legal and Democratic Services Manager / Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, to review the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and the IOL guidance to ensure there is a consistent approach to that advocated in the Guidance and make any changes necessary; and

iii)         That the penalty points scheme provided at Appendix 1 of the Policy be replaced with a revised scheme provided in Appendix 2 of this report.