Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the following meetings;

Licensing Committee on 10 June 2022;

Licensing Panel on 30 November 2022;

Licensing Regulatory Panel on 27 June 2022, 1 September 2022, 25 October 2022, 15 November 2022 and 6 January 2023.

The minutes of the following meetings were signed as a correct record;

Licensing Committee on 10 June 2022

Licensing Panel on 30 November 2022

Licensing Regulatory Panel on 27 June 2022, 01 September 2022, 25 October 2022, 15 November 2022 and 6 January 2023.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared.

To answer questions from members of the public – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm on a working day, allowing two clear working days before the day of the meeting.

None received.

The Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance submitted a report asking members to consider an amendment to the Vehicle Age Policy which covers hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.

Members were advised the amendment would be to replace clause 4 of the existing Vehicle Age Policy with the following wording:

“Once licensed if a vehicle is over four years of age from the first date of registration or reaches four years of age from the first date of registration within the duration of its licence, a vehicle test is required no later than four months following the commencement date of the vehicle licence and no earlier than 28 days before that date.

Once established that a vehicle is either already 4 or will turn 4 during the licence period, 4 monthly vehicle test dates will be due at equal intervals during the licence period. For example, if a vehicle turns four on 1 May and the commencement of the licence was 1 April, the 4 monthly test due dates will be 1 Aug, 1 Dec and the renewal test will be due by 1 April. Tests are valid up to 28 days in advance of the due date. If the test is carried out early or late the next test will still be due at the original set date meaning the vehicle is tested at equal points during the licence period.

Tests to be undertaken by the Council’s contractor.  Failure to comply with this requirement will lead to the suspension of the vehicle or refusal to renew the vehicle licence”

The Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance highlighted to members that delegated powers for the suspension/revocation of vehicle licences for failure to undertake or pass the required tests require updating to the following:

Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance and;

Specialist – Licensing and Compliance

Councillor B Pegram proposed to accept the amendment to the Vehicle Age Policy as per officer’s recommendation and give delegated powers.

The motion was seconded by Councillor M Grainger.

The vote in favour of the motion was unanimous. The motion was carried.

The Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance submitted a report asking members to award delegated powers to the Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance in conjunction with the Senior Manager – Environmental Health and Housing to amend Allerdale Borough Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire conditions of application and licence.

Following the commencement of Cumberland Council on 1 April 2023 there will be a period whereby Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Polices from sovereign polices will remain in place until a consolidated policy for Cumberland is approved.

The Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance advised members the current conditions require chequered stripes on hackney carriages, this will be removed and replaced with door signs for both hackney and private hire vehicles. Existing conditions requiring plates to be affixed to the front and rear of vehicles (all vehicles), provision of a roof sign and meter (hackney carriages only) will remain.

Councillor M Grainger proposed to award delegated powers to the Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance and the Senior Manager – Environmental Health and Housing.

The motion was seconded by Councillor J Crouch.

The vote in favour of the motion was unanimous. The motion was carried.

The Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance submitted a report asking members to review the decision made to increase the table of fares in 2022 in light of updated current economic circumstances.

The table of fares review usually takes place on an annual basis but there was no review in 2019, 2020 or 2021. A consultation with the hackney carriage trade took place between 19 April 2022 and 13 May 2022. Within that time, 13 responses were received requesting an increase.

The last variation of the table of fares was on 10 June 2022 which came into effect on 18 July 2022. In light of the fast moving economic changes the Committee requested to that a further review take place in 6 months.

Members questioned officers with regards to the fares from 1 April 2023 with Local Government Reorganisation.

Members were advised that they are looking at amalgamating the table of fares.

Councillor B Pegram proposed to retain the fares as existing.

Councillor M Grainger seconded.

A vote was taken; the vote was unanimously in favour