Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 5 - Ground Floor - Civic Centre

Contact: Donna Cope, Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 01902 554452 Email:  donna.cope@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Dr Paul John Birch J.P and Councillor Asha Mattu.

2.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee held on 18 September 2019 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

4.

Matters arising

Minutes of the Molineux Safety Advisory Group previously circulated to be noted.

Minutes:

The were no matters arising.

5.

Minutes - 20 September 2019 - Non-Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee pdf icon PDF 295 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Non-Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee held on 20 September 2019 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

6.

Minutes - 14 November 2019 - Non-Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Non-Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee held on 14 November 2019 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

7.

Minutes - 3 December 2019 - Non-Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Non-Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee held on 3 December 2019 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

8.

Hackney Carriage Unmet Demand Survey 2019 - 2020 pdf icon PDF 32 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report asking Members to:

 

  1. Maintain the existing policy of not capping the numbers for Hackney Carriage Vehicles.
  2. Endorse the recommendation of the demand survey to use CCTV cameras.
  3. Approve the continued rolling programme for Hackney Carriage Demand Surveys.
  4. Note the findings of the Hackney Carriage Demand Survey attached at Appendix 1 to this report.

 

Ian Millership, CTS Traffic and Transportation Ltd, presented the survey findings and responded to questions asked.

 

Members commended the survey report and welcomed the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

 

  1. Maintained the existing policy of not capping the numbers for Hackney Carriage Vehicles.
  2. Endorsed the recommendation of the demand survey to use CCTV cameras.
  3. Approved the continued rolling programme for Hackney Carriage Demand Surveys.
  4. Noted the findings of the Hackney Carriage Demand Survey attached at Appendix 1 to this report.

9.

Vehicle Control and Supervision Operative Research pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report asking Members to:

 

  1. Review the ‘Event Management for Licensed Vehicles’ report.
  2. Endorse the event management guidance, sample plan and recommendations.

 

Ian Millership, CTS Traffic and Transportation Ltd, presented the research findings and responded to questions asked.

 

He commended the City of Wolverhampton Council Licensing team for commissioning such critical research and encouraged them to continue the good work.  

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

 

  1. Reviewed the ‘Event Management for Licensed Vehicles’ report.
  2. Endorsed the event management guidance, sample plan and recommendations.

10.

Review of Fees and Charges for General Licensing and Miscellaneous Matters for 2020/2021 pdf icon PDF 264 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report asking Members to:

 

  1. Approve the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1 April 2020.

 

The Licensing Manager discussed how the fees and charges had been determined and outlined the proposals for the coming year.

 

Councillor Greg Brackenridge commended the work of Licensing Services and welcomed the report.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

 

1.    Approved the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1 April 2020.

11.

Review of Fees and Charges for Street Trading Consents for 2020/2021 pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report asking Members to:

 

  1. Approve the proposed fees and charges for Annual Street Trading Consents as set out in Appendix 1of this report with effect from 1 April 2020.
  2. Approve the proposed fees and charges for Occasional/Temporary Street Trading Consents as set out in Appendix 2of this report with effect from 1 April 2020.
  3. Note that a review of the Street Trading Policy provision is taking place.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

 

  1. Approved the proposed fees and charges for Annual Street Trading Consents as set out in Appendix 1of this report with effect from 1 April 2020.
  2. Approved the proposed fees and charges for Occasional/Temporary Street Trading Consents as set out in Appendix 2of this report with effect from 1 April 2020.
  3. Noted that a review of the Street Trading Policy provision is taking place.

12.

Review of Fees and Charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing functions for 2020-2021 pdf icon PDF 170 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report asking Members to:

 

  1. Approve the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1 April 2020.
  2. Approve the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles as set out in Appendix 2 with effect from 1 April 2020.
  3. Approve the proposed fees and charges for Private Hire Operators as set out in Appendix 2 with effect from 1 April 2020
  4. Note the working fund reserve.
  5. Note the comprehensive checks undertaken on the National Register of Taxi and Private Hire revocation and refusals.

 

The Licensing Manager outlined the proposals for the coming year and responded to questions asked.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

 

  1. Approved the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1 April 2020.
  2. Approved the proposed fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles as set out in Appendix 2 with effect from 1 April 2020.
  3. Approved the proposed fees and charges for Private Hire Operators as set out in Appendix 2 with effect from 1 April 2020
  4. Noted the working fund reserve.
  5. Noted the comprehensive checks undertaken on the National Register of Taxi and Private Hire revocation and refusals.

13.

Consultation Response on amendments to Private Hire Operator, Driver and Vehicle Conditions pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report asking Members to:

 

  1. Approve the final draft conditions for Private Hire Driver, Vehicle and Operators attached at Appendices 1, 2 and 3.
  2. Note the proposed draft conditions that have been subject to the consultation exercise attached at Appendices 4, 5 and 6.
  3. Note the consultation response attached at Appendix 7.

 

The Licensing Manager pointed out a typographical error on page 203 of the report and confirmed that West Midlands Private Hire Drivers Association had not been invited to respond to the consultation.

 

He stated that twenty one responses had been received from drivers requesting that they be allowed to work for multiple Private Hire Vehicle Operators and that given the number of requests, this was to be determined by Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee.

 

Members considered the request and although they acknowledged the importance of worker’s rights, they had great concerns for the impact it could have on public safety. It was noted that drivers could move Operator, giving the prescribed notification.

 

It was therefore agreed that the current policy should remain unchanged and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers should only work for one operator at a time.

 

The new conditions would be applicable for licences granted after 1st February 2020.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

 

  1. Approved the final draft conditions for Private Hire Driver, Vehicle and Operators attached at Appendices 1, 2 and 3.
  2. Noted the proposed draft conditions that have been subject to the consultation exercise attached at Appendices 4, 5 and 6.
  3. Noted the consultation response attached at Appendix 7.