Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Connal.

Absent without apologies: Councillors Leslie and Walford.

The Chair apologised to the Labour Group about the information she had relayed regarding licensing training.  She asked the Committee and Scrutiny Officer to explain about the requirement for training. 

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that at Council on 22 May 2002 it was agreed that only Councillors who had undertaken relevant licensing training would be able to take part in the Licensing Committee. 

Councillor Dhindsa asked for clarification why Councillor Bell had been allowed to replace Councillor Connal in June if he had not undertaken the appropriate training.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer explained that it had only recently come to light that the session Councillor Bell had attended in 2010 had not covered training related to licensed drivers.

The Councillor asked that a list of all Councillors who had undertaken licensing training was circulated to the Committee.

The Chair requested that the Constitution Working Party be asked to agree that members should undertake licensing training at least every four years.  This was agreed by the Committee.

A Member noted that there were a number of changes to licensing which were due to come into effect in the next year.  She said that any training should take place once these changes came into effect.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that significant changes were due to come into effect later this year.  He would arrange for a refresher course to be held or a discussion to be set up to look at the changes.

RESOLVED –

that Constitution Working Party be asked to review the training requirements for licensing and to set a time limit which required Councillors to undertake licensing training at least once every four years.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To approve for signature the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2011 were submitted and signed.

Report of the Head of Environmental Services.

This report asks the Committee to ratify the decision of the Executive Director Services and to approve the continuation of the standard condition relating to hackney carriage seating capacities set out in appendix 1.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Environmental Services asking Members to ratify the decision taken by the Executive Director Services on 26 September 2011 regarding the amendment to the standard condition relating to hackney carriage seating capacities.

Following a Member’s question, the Licensing Manager advised that passengers seated in the rear of a vehicle were not expected to exit the vehicle by using the driver or front passenger doors.

A Member commented that a vehicle would not be licensed if it only had two doors.

The Member then asked for clarification about the luggage capacity for the London style hackney carriages.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that these types of vehicles had a large amount of luggage space either in the boot or next to the driver.  The purpose of the reference in the report to ‘flip seats’ was that these seats were not suitable for passengers.  This was not the case for the London-style black cabs. 

The Chair advised that the amended condition could not be imposed retrospectively; it would only apply to vehicles licensed since the amendment was approved.

RESOLVED –

that the decision of the Executive Director Services of 26 September 2011 be ratified, and that approval be given for the standard condition relating to hackney carriage seating capacities set out in appendix 1 of the report to continue.