Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chairman from among the councillors.

Councillor Farmer was elected as Vice Chairman.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2021 are attached for confirmation and signature as a current record.

The minutes of 2 March 2021 were agreed and confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.

Apologies received from Councillor Delaney, Councillor Drage and Councillor Wright.

To declare disclosable pecuniary, and any other, interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

None declared.

The Chairman expressed thanks to Sophy Brough of the Licensing Service Team for all her work with the Licensing Committee and wished her well in her future role. 

The purpose of this report is to consider a draft amendment to the Taxi and Private Hire Policy.

RECOMMENDATION

Licensing Committee is recommended to approve the draft amendment to the Taxi and Private Hire Policy for consultation with the trade and interested parties.

The Committee considered an amendment to the Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Policy to make card payments mandatory in all licensed vehicles.  This would be included in the specifications and conditions of Hackney carriage and Private Hire vehicles.

DECISION

Approved the draft amendment to the Taxi and Private Hire Policy for consultation with trade and interested parties.

To consider the renewal of the Shared Licensing Service between Hart District Council and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.

RECOMMENDATION

That Licensing Committee:

1.               Considers the renewal of the Shared Licensing Service between Hart District Council and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council;

2.               Agrees any comments to Cabinet to take into account when they consider the renewal of the Shared Licensing Service.

The Committee considered the renewal of Shared Licensing Service between Hart District Council and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council,  

Members discussed:  

•        The proposed length of the Shared Service renewal 

•        The net cost of the Shared Service 

•        The improved resilience by operating a Shared Service 

•        Performance against a set of key performance indicators (KPIs), and while this was a matter for Overview & Scrutiny, asked for a note on KPIs be circulated to Licensing Committee prior to the next meeting 

•        Whether there was a sustainability issue in relation to the Climate Change Emergency due to taxi drivers needing to travel to Basingstoke.  Officers outlined that now most of the process elements are done online and plates are sent in the post, so there is a reduced need to travel to Basingstoke; but the efficiencies of the shared service would not work if the service was operated from both Hart and Basingstoke. 

•        The Portfolio Holder asked if any Members had complaints about the service which had not been raised with Officers that they be raised with the Portfolio Holder and copied to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee 

DECISION

Agreed:

the following comments for Cabinet to take into account when considering the renewal of the Shared Licensing Service:

•        The current service was very efficient and did not generate complaints

•        Licencing Hearings were always well run

•        The shared licensing service had led to increased resilience compared with a small team in Hart previously

•        Cabinet should consider the appropriate timeframe for the renewed shared service to get most efficiency and price

•        Cabinet should consider the cost of the service and be satisfied it is value for money

to invite the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider whether to retrospectively consider the Shared Licensing Service following the Cabinet decision in July 2021.