Apologies had been received from Councillor Crout and Hannon.

No apologies were received from Councillor Watling and Stanton

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 30 September 2021 were approved and signed. 

The minutes of the meeting held on the 30 September 2021 were submitted and signed.

Report of the Senior Licensing Officer. 

The committee received the report of the Senior Licensing Officer seeking the committee’s approval to charge fees for the 2022/2023 financial year for some of the different licensing regimes administered by the council.  The Senior Licensing Officer highlighted that the fees shown on pages 1 and 2 were for the committee to approve. 

The Senior Licensing Officer explained that licensing fees were set on a cost recovery basis and that the licensing service was a self-funding function.  He advised that where fees were calculated on a cost recovery basis, the proposed fees had been raised by up to 3%. 

However, there was one exception to this approach with regard to taxi and private hire driver and vehicle licences and private hire operator licenses where digitalisation of council taxi services had led to operational efficiencies and the ability to offset the increased costs. 

Councillor Khan asked about the annual vehicle charges and if this cost could be offset as taxi drivers had been unable to work through lockdown and with no access to the furlough scheme.  The Senior Licensing Officer responded that there had been financial support from the council and that the fees were for the administration function.  The Environmental Health Manager advised that there had been flexibility and support for individuals who had applied for licences during the pandemic.

Councillor Hofman raised the issue regarding an incentive discount for wholly electric vehicle licences in light of climate change.  The issue was discussed by members and decided that the idea should be taken to the Electric Vehicle Task Group for further consideration.  The Senior Licensing Officer explained that any changes to fees would have to be taken to the hackney carriage trade for consultation and therefore would not be able to be implemented for the financial year 2022/23.

RESOLVED –

1.         That the fees and charges set out in pages 1 and 2 of appendix 1 for the financial year 2022/2023 be approved and that the fees and charges in pages 3 and 4 of appendix be recommended to Council for approval.

2.         That the Head of Community Protection, in consultation with the Chair of Licensing, be delegated authority to increase or decrease charges in respect of the provision of:

•          Compulsory door signage for hackney carriages

•          Disclosure and Barring Service and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency checks

•          Licence badges and plates

For the reasons outlined in sections 4.9 and 4.10 of the report.