Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online Meeting

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

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Milkinder Jaspal

 

2.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee held on 9 September 2020 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

 

4.

Matters arising

Minutes:

There were no matters arising.

 

5.

Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards Consultations Response and Recommendations pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Greg Bickerdike, Service Lead - Licensing, presented a report on the statutory taxi & private hire vehicle standards consultations response and recommendations.

 

The Service Lead reported a number of updates since the agenda had been published and responded to questions asked. The current situation regarding surveillance cameras within licensed vehicles was outlined and that the Mandatory requirement for CCTV was not met. However, Members felt that the installation of CCTV within licensed vehicles should be encouraged.

 

The implementation of the DBS Update Service and its impact on existing drivers was considered by Members at length. They felt that the four options listed at paragraph 4.3 of the report were not appropriate and sought legal advice on the matter. Following further discussions, an alternative option was proposed by the Commercial Regulation Manager as follows:

 

Option E: That new applicants would be required to sign up to the update service on application and existing drivers must sign up to the update service on renewal of their DBS.

 

All Members agreed on Option E, and Councillor Bolshaw moved the recommendations within the report. Councillor Potter seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

  1. Debated whether the implementation of the DBS Update Service should be hastened with the approval of additional requirements for existing driver licence holders.
  2. Approved a six-week consultation into a voluntary CCTV scheme in licensed vehicles.
  3. Approved the proposals recommended in the report.
  4. Approved the new Private Hire Vehicle, Driver and Operator licence conditions, effective from 1 April 2021.

Delegated authority to the Service Lead – Licensing, in consultation with the Chair of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee, to write and publish a letter to the Department for Transport, detailing the consideration of the measures contained in Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, and the policies and delivery plans that stemmed from these.

6.

Extension of Age Limit for Hybrid and Electric Private Hire Vehicles pdf icon PDF 271 KB

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Commercial Regulation Manager, presented a report outlining the request made by the Private Hire Trade Working Group to increase the vehicle age limit, allowing for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles to be licensed until they reach 14 years old.

 

Members of the Committee considered the request and the Commercial Regulation Manager responded to questions asked.

 

Councillor Page moved that the request be declined, and Councillor Muston seconded this.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

  1. Declined the request from the Private Hire Trade Working Group to increase the private hire vehicle age limit for Hybrid or Electric vehicles.

 

7.

Review of Fees and Charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Functions for 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Greg Bickerdike, Service Lead, Licensing, presented a report on the proposed fees and charges for hackney carriage and private hire licensing functions for 2021-2022.

 

He outlined the key changes and Members welcomed the reduction of fees. 

 

Councillor Bolshaw moved the recommendations within the report. Councillor Inston seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

That Members of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee:

  1. Approved the proposed fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1 April 2021.

 

8.

Review of Fees and Charges for General Licensing and Miscellaneous Matters for 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 265 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Commercial Regulation Manager, presented a report on the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing and Miscellaneous Matters for 2021-2022.

 

He reported a typographical error within the recommendation for decision and advised that it should state: Approve the proposed fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 to 3 with effect from 1 April 2021.

 

The fees and charges remained the same as last year and the Commercial

Regulation Manager explained the introduction of payment plans to assist

businesses that had been adversely affected by Covid-19.

 

Councillor Potter welcomed the report and moved the recommendations. Councillor Russell seconded the recommendations.

 

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 to 3 with effect from 1 April 2021.
  2. Noted the introduction of a facility to spread out Licence renewal payments.

9.

Review of Fees and Charges for Street Trading Consents for 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 389 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Chris Howell, Commercial Regulation Manager, presented a report on the proposed fees and charges for Street Trading Consents for 2021-2022.

 

He stated that the proposed fees and charges for 2021-2022 currently remained the same as last year but as the future impact of Covid-19 on Street Traders was not known, it may be appropriate to apply further reductions during that period.

 

The proposed fee reductions for the period 2020-2021 were outlined and the Commercial Regulation Manager updated Members on the Street Trading review.

 

Councillor Bolshaw welcomed the report and moved the recommendations. Councillor Muston seconded the recommendations.

 

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 the report with effect from 1 April 2021.
  2. Approved the proposed fees and charges for Occasional/Temporary Street Trading Consents as set out in Appendix 2of the report with effect from 1 April 2021.
  3. Approved the proposed reduction in fees for 2020-2021 due to Covid-19.
  4. Approved the proposed reduction in fees for March 2020 due to Covid-19.
  5. Noted that the review of the Street Trading Policy provision was on hold due to Coronavirus and will recommence this year.

 

The Chair of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee acknowledged the pragmatic view taken by officers in order to assist those who had been adversely affected by Covid-19 and it was agreed that external comms would be sent out regarding this.