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Grass-cutting on council properties | Due to wet conditions of the grass, we may not be able to cut all of the grass areas of our council properties at this current time; this includes our parks, open spaces and play areas. Our team are surveying the sites and as soon as the areas are dry enough, our team will be grass-cutting as usual. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. 

Meeting documentation

Meeting documents

Licensing Committee
Wednesday, 12th September, 2012 6.30 pm

ItemDescriptionResolution
Declaration of interests - members are reminded that following the adoption by Council of the new Code of Conduct, any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the new code. In particular, members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'personal' or 'prejudicial'.

The Monitoring Officer would like to remind members that when they are considering whether the following items are exempt information under the relevant paragraph under part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 they must have regard to the public interest test. This means that members must consider, for each item, whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption from disclosure outweighs the public interest in making the item available to the public.
15 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Adams, J Cotterill, P Hyde, C Large and M Specht.
  
16 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
There were no Declarations of Interests.
  
17 MINUTES
Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 21st March, 2012
Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2012.
 RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2012 be approved.
18 VARIATION TO HACKNEY CARRIAGE FARE TABLE
The Licensing Team Leader presented the report to Members. He advised the Committee that a request had been received from the Hackney Carriage Trade to increase the fare by 10p as they found it difficult to absorb the rising costs in fuel, insurance and maintenance. He also drew Member's attention to the update sheet that had been provided for Members.

In response to a question from a Member, the Licensing Team Leader advised the Committee that the drivers did not have to raise their fares, but if they did they would have to provide a calibration sheet for the taxi meter to the Licensing Team.

A Member welcomed the update sheet, but felt that some explanation was required as to the fare that could be charged should a five person plus vehicle be used by two people only.
RESOLVED THAT:

In principle, The Hackney Carriage Fare Table be varied as follows:

A) The fare for up to and including the first mile is increased to £3.70 from £3.60 with immediate effect following consultation.

B) To delegate authority to the Environmental Health Team Manager to resolve any objections received.

C) To delegate authority to the Environmental Health Team Manager to draw up a new fare table if agreed following consultation.

D) To delegate authority to the Environmental Health Team Manager to increase the fare to £3.75 in April 2013.

E) That an explanation be included in relation to the fare that could be charged for the use of a five person plus vehicle by two people, and the wording be delegated to the Environmental Health Team Manager in agreement with the Chairman of the Committee.
19 REVIEW OF THE GAMBLING ACT 2005 STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY
The Licensing Enforcement Officer presented the report to Members.
 RESOLVED THAT:

The reviewed Statement of Licensing Policy is recommended to Council for approval.
20 LICENSING AUTHORITIES POWERS TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMATIC PREMISES
The Environmental Health Team Manager presented the report to Members.
 RESOLVED THAT:

The Committee note the changes to Alcohol Licensing Law.
21 COUNTY WIDE ALCOHOL LICENSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The Environmental Health Team Manager presented the report to Members. He outlined the project and it's objectives.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer informed the Members that the project would develop:-

- Model conditions that would be available for Members to consider at Licensing Sub Committees.

- Standard training for all the authorities across the County.

- A more interactive rating scheme that would encourage licensed premises to comply with the Licensing Act.

The Chairman congratulated the team on being selected to work on the project.

Some Members of the Committee expressed their concerns over the effectiveness that an Alcohol Licensing Information Scheme would have to both licensed premises holders and members of the public.

Following a question from a Member, the Environmental Health Team Manager advised the Committee that as the project would come back to Committee in November and that a pilot would be carried out in a small part of the District.

The Legal Advisor reminded the Committee that the project would ensure that there would be a consistent approach across the County to training and conditions that were available to Licensing Committees to impose at hearings.

Following comments from Members, the Environmental Health Team Manager advised the Committee that since taking the position as Team Manager, the number of Licensed Premises that are inspected had dropped from 500 to 30 that were on the radar for this year.
 RESOLVED THAT:

1) The Licensing Committee note the content of the County Wide Alcohol Licensing Improvement Project.

2) The Licensing Committee receives progress reports at future meetings.
Published on Monday, 24th September, 2012
The meeting closed at 7.26pm.

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor N Smith (Chairman) (In the Chair)

Councillors G Allman, A Bridges, J G Coxon, D Everitt, G Jones, L Massey, T Neilson, V Richichi, J Ruff, R Woodward and M B Wyatt.

Officers: Mr S Eyre, Mr D Gill, Mrs C Hammond, Mr L Mansfield and Miss E McHugh.