Meeting documents

 

 

Karen Barclay	P Chris Blades
A Ericka Blades	A Mary Blatchford
P James Clayton	P Andy Cole
John Crockford-Hawley	P Ann Harley
P Jill Iles	Marcia Pepperall
Kate Stowey	A James Tonkin
A Martin Williams	P Roz Willis

 

 

P: Present

A: Apologies for absence submitted

 

Officers in attendance: Sioux Isherwood (Development & Environment), Amanda Hodge (Development & Environment), Heather Sanders (Corporate Services), Sara Saunders (Corporate Services)

 

LIC 1

Election of Chairman for the meeting (Agenda item 1)

Resolved: that Councillor Chris Blades be elected Chairman for the meeting.

 

Councillor Blades in the Chair

 

LIC 2

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (Agenda item 4)

None.

 

LIC 3

Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 November 2015 (Agenda item 5)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

 

LIC 4

Annual Report on the Administration and Enforcement of all Licensing Regimes (Agenda item 7)

The Director of Development and Environment reported on the licensing activities undertaken in respect of the functions and responsibilities of North Somerset Councils Licensing Team within the financial year 2017/18. The report also invited the Committee to review the recently revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy prior to public consultation.

 

The Director of Development and Environments representative introduced her report and responded to Members questions and queries, particularly about the refreshed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing policy as follows;

 

Use of CCTV in licensed vehicles - Members were advised that although this was not mandatory it was covered by Section 4.19 and Appendix 1 of the policy; MOT & compliance testing for new vehicles - Members noted that this was covered in Section 4.5 of the policy and that most vehicle suppliers would provide an MOT certificate at no additional cost on request;

Child Sexual Exploitation and Safeguarding Training - Members were advised that this issue was covered in Section 5.11 of the policy and that Safeguarding was an element of the training both drivers and operators were required to undertake; Smoking in vehicles noting that smoking was prohibited under Section 5.43 of the policy a Member referred to smoking reduction initiatives encouraged elsewhere within the Council and to the possible relaxation of an outright ban to permit the use of cigarette substitutes in licensed vehicles.

 

Additionally, Members discussed the desirability of introducing a whistleblowing policy so that members of the public and/or elected members could be assured that any disclosure about the possible criminal activity of a North Somerset licensed driver would be treated in absolute confidence and also whether the gender balance of Hackney Carriage/Private Hire licence holders had improved. The representative of the Director of Development & Environment also reported on new guidance issued by the Institute of Licensing concerning the rehabilitation of offenders and Members noted that North Somerset Councils Criminal Convictions Policy would need to be updated in response to this change in the guidance applicable.

 

Resolved: that the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Chairman

________________________________