Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors M Roe and R Welton.

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.

None.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting of the General Licensing Committee held on 7 February 2023. 

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2023 were noted.

Presentation of the Environmental Team Manager (Licensing)

The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) delivered an update on the progress of the CCTV Policy which had made it mandatory for vehicles licensed by the Council to include a CCTV camera inside.

The Committee was informed that almost every vehicle under the Council’s control now had a camera installed (158 had it installed) and the only exceptions were drivers who had applied to the Council for policy exemptions.

The Committee was also informed that the issue with the Derbyshire County Council vulnerable child safeguarding policy that was discussed at the previous Committee meeting had now been resolved. The Council had made a temporary amendment to its CCTV Policy and Derbyshire County Council would also be changing their relevant policies in future.

The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) made Members aware that a driver who had applied for a CCTV Policy exemption and attended a recent General Licensing Sub Committee hearing had raised the issue of whether or not damage to the CCTV cameras could void the warranties. After that hearing, the camera manufacturers were approached and they clarified that damage to the camera would be covered by the suppliers’ insurance and would not void warranties in most cases, but each manufacturer would be different and so this should be discussed with the supplier.

The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) stated that a further update on the CCTV Policy progress would be made at the next General Licensing Committee meeting.

Members discussed some of the feedback they had received on the Policy from taxi drivers, and shared anecdotes of some drivers feeling as though they must look for their licence outside the District. Members were advised that Licensing officers had received feedback from drivers months ago with a number saying they would look for a licence elsewhere, but the majority eventually stayed in the District.

Members considered the management of the footage from the cameras, and asked if periodic checks of the footage would take place. The Legal Team Manager explained that the setup of the system would not allow for periodic checks, but all footage would be held for a minimum of 14 days.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

Presentation of the Environmental Team Manager (Licensing)

The Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) delivered an update on implementation of the updated Taxi Policy.

Members were advised that the updated version would now include increased frequency of DBS checks and medicals.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

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

None.