Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf Councillors Mark Evans and Paul Singh.

There were no declarations of interest.

(a) Meeting, 12 November 2014.

(b) Sub-Committee – meetings, 3 and 11 December 2014.

Resolved:

(a)  That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2014 be approved as a correct record.

(b)  That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 3 and 11 December 2014 be approved as a correct record and adopted.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Resolved:

(a)  That the report be received.

(b)  That item 3, relating to the Wolverhampton Alcohol Strategy 2011/15, be deferred to the first meeting of the 2015/16 municipal year to enable the report to include the full year outturn together with an update on the strategy and action plan.

To approve fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2015

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which sought approval of the proposed fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2015. 

He responded to Councillors’ questions and comments in regard to this item and agenda items 7 and 8 as follows:-

·       A press release would be made in regard to the fees and charges following this meeting;

·       a meeting of the Hackney Carriage Working Group was scheduled to take place in early February, at which the issue of fares would be considered. The Licensing Committee was responsible for determining any request to increase fares;

·       the historic charges column would be reintroduced in future reports;

·       with regard to the issue of flyers, the regulatory regime was only applicable to the City Centre. It was permitted in other areas of the City albeit unregulated.  Conditions includeed responsibility of the individual business to clear up any litter arising from the distribution of flyers and the issue would be specifically addressed when the City Centre (Business Improvement District) BID was in place, and

·       fees and charges were regularly monitored to ensure the service was maintaining maximum efficiency standards, whilst protecting the public.

Resolved:

(a)  That the proposed fees and charges for Annual Street Trading Consents, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved with effect from 1 April 2015.

(b)  That the proposed fees and charges for Occasional/Temporary Street Trading Consents, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be approved with effect from 1 April 2015.

(c)  That the appreciation of the Licensing Committee be placed on record, in respect of the valued efforts of the employees of regulatory services in maintaining a high level of service, whilst making the necessary efficiencies in respect of available resources to carry out the tasks.

To approve fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2015.

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which sought approval of the proposed fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2015.

Resolved:

(a)  That the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved with effect from 1 April 2015.

(b)  That the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be approved with effect from 1 April 2015.

To approve fees and charges for 2015/16 and to note those set by the Secretary of State.

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which sought approval of the proposed fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2015 and outlined those set by the Secretary of State.

Resolved:

(a)  That the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved with effect from 1 April 2015.

(b)  That the distribution of free printed material consent for new businesses be made permanent.

(c)  That the proposed fees and charges, set out in Appendix B to the report, in relation to the Gambling Act 2005 and over which the Council has fee setting powers, be approved with effect from 1 April 2005.

(d)  That the fees, charges and permits set by the Secretary of State in relation to the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005, over which the Council has no local control, be noted

To approve the revised policy as it applies to non executive matters falling under the remit of the Committee.

The Head of Regulatory Services presented a report, which sought approval to the revised policy as it applied to non-executive matters falling under the remit of the Licensing Committee.  He pointed out that, under the recent restructure ‘Regeneration’ no longer existed, and a further report would be presented both to the Cabinet and Licensing Committee the following year including information on the current proposal to introduce a Black Country Policy.

Resolved:

          That the proposed, revised Regeneration Compliance and Regulatory Policy be approved.