Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Potter and Photay.

Councillor Anwen declared a personal interest in agenda item 6, Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 18 October 2016, as a Trustee of the premises for which a Temporary Event Notice was considered.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 7 September 2016 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the inclusion of apologies from Councillor Claymore.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 September 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on 6 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Committee discussed the following matters arising:

·     Having considered the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 October 2016, Members expressed concerns that events were being held without Temporary Event Notices having been applied for.

·     The Head of Governance reported on the recent ‘Go slow’ protests held by the Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers Association.  He stated that, in his view, the Association had launched the protests not in the interests of public safety as it had claimed, but to attempt to limit competition for their own commercial gain, a view that the Committee concurred with.

Resolved:    

1.     That the Committee receive a report detailing the process for obtaining a Temporary Events Notice and the educational role of the Licensing Authority, including draft letter templates;

2.     That the view of the Head of Governance regarding the ‘Go Slow’ protests and the view of the Committee in respect of the motivation for the protests be noted.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

A report was considered regarding Guidelines relating to the relevance of convictions and breaches of Licence conditions in relation to Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicle proprietors and drivers and private hire vehicle operators.

Resolved:

1.     That the proposed amendments to the Guidelines Relating to Relevance of Convictions and Breaches of Licence Conditions relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Proprietors and Drivers and Private Hire Vehicle operators should be the subject of a consultation exercise;

2.     That employees undertake a consultation exercise;

3.     That the Committee receive a further report following the completion of the consultation exercise;

4.     That it be noted that the proposed amendments have been subject to an internal consultation with employees.

A report was considered which requested agreement of the Terms of Reference for the Responsible Authorities Forum.

Resolved:

1.     That the proposed Terms of Reference for the Responsible Authorities Forum be agreed.

2.     That it be noted that the Terms of Reference were subjected to a full consultation of all members of the Responsible Authorities Forum.