Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Bone, C Huckerby and T Reader.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

Members were requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

            No interests were declared at this meeting. 

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting of the General Licensing Committee held on 17 October 2019.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the last meeting of the General Licensing Committee held on 17 October 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

The Chair allowed the committee to recess for 30 minutes.

The meeting resumed at 1.pm

The Committee was presented with a report that asked Members to consider an increase in the Hackney Carriage Tariff for hackney carriages in North East Derbyshire.

Members heard that in accordance with Section 66 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 the licensing authority may fix the maximum rates or fares for journeys within the controlled district of the council, together with all other charges in connection with the hire of a hackney carriage.

The Committee discussed the merits of increasing the Hackney Carriage Tariff. Members acknowledged that there was concern that the current tariff set by the Council was of such a level that it prevented vehicle proprietors from investing in their vehicles. It was stated that at the present time, all of the hackney carriages licensed by the Authority were at least 10 years old.

The Licensing Team Leader clarified the distinction between hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, and informed Members that the Licensing Committee had refused previous requests of increasing the tariff from the trade.

Members were provided with an article from the Private Hire and Taxi Hire Monthly Magazine which published the National Private Hire Association’s monthly league table of fares for every licensing authority in England, Scotland and Wales. It ranked licensing authorities based on the cost of an average two mile fare. North East Derbyshire was ranked 331^st out of 363 authorities with an average  fare of £5.00.

The Licensing Team Leader clarified the process in which Hackney Carriage vehicles were regularly inspected, and that as part of the application process vehicles were sent to Eckington for an MOT and inspection. It was stated that checks occurred every six months, including random vehicle inspections.

Members were reminded of the process if they were to approve the recommendations. A statutory notice would be placed in a local newspaper, the Council’s website and at the Council’s office window for 28 days. If there were no representations from the trade after that period, the tariff changes would be immediately enforced. Alternatively, if there were representations it would be brought back to the General Licensing Committee where Members could amend and propose new tariffs, remain with the existing tariffs, or adopt the proposed tariff increase.

RESOLVED – That Members approve the proposed variation to the Hackney Carriage Tariff, subject to the publishing of a statutory notice in a local newspaper and objection received being considered by this Committee prior to the implementation of the revised tariff (with or without modification after consideration of the objections).

The Solicitor updated the Committee on the proposed policy change to introduce mandatory CCTV installation in North East Derbyshire District Council private hire and hackney carriage vehicles. Members heard that preparatory work was underway on a draft policy, and that this would be taken to a Licensing Committee in due course.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted

To consider any other matter which the Chair of the Committee is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgency to be discussed at this meeting.