Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Rita Potter, Councillor Asha Mattu and Councillor Jonathan Crofts.

There were no declarations of interest made.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 September 2022 as a correct record].

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Committee held on 28 September 2022 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

[To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting].

There were no matters arising.

[To approve the minutes of the Regulatory Sub-Committee held on 7 September 2022 as a correct record].

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Sub-Committee held on 7 September 2022 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

[To approve the Street Trading Policy].

Emma Caddick, Service Manager – Environmental Health, presented the report: Draft City of Wolverhampton Street Trading Policy. The report detailed the outcome of the consultation on the draft policy and sought Committee approval to implement the final version.

The report was considered by Committee.

Councillor Brackenridge moved the recommendations and Councillor Muston seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved the final version of the City of Wolverhampton Street Trading policy.
2. Noted the responses to the public consultation on the Draft Street Trading Policy and proposed pitches.
3. Noted the amendments made to the Draft Street Trading Policy.

[To approve the proposed fees and charges for 2023-2024].

Paul Dosanjh, Service Manager, Trading Standards & Licensing Act, presented a report outlining the proposed fees and charges for general licensing and miscellaneous matters for 2023-2024.

The Service Manager reported that the fees and charges remained the same as last year, and the payment plans that were introduced to assist businesses that had been adversely affected by Covid-19, would continue.

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

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1.    Approved the proposed fees and charges for General Licensing as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1 April 2023.

[To approve the ongoing approach to meet the demand for private hire driver licences].

Greg Bickerdike, Licensing Manager presented the report: Update on Private Hire Licensing Growth. The report outlined the national shortage of licensed drivers and highlighted the extraordinary demand for private hire driver licences. It detailed the procedures in place to prioritise residents of Wolverhampton and asked members to approve the ongoing approach to tackle the high demand for private hire driver licences.

The Licensing Manager noted that he had been contacted by the Department for Transport advising him of the following amendments to the report:

·          Paragraphs 3.3 and 4.3 – As of 31 March 2022 there are 281 English licensing authorities. This number has dropped over the years due to changes in local government structures so it may have been 322 when the data in the table starts (2012-13).

·          Paragraph 3.7 - Operators licensed under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 can sub-contract bookings to those licensed under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

The report was considered by Committee and the Licensing Manager responded to questions asked.

Councillor Brackenridge noted that Wolverhampton Licensing were doing more to help address the shortage of private hire drivers than other councils. Technology had been implemented to keep Wolverhampton ahead of the game to enable licensing to be processed quickly without risking public safety.  Councillor Brackenridge thanked Licensing Officer for their hard work and moved the recommendations.

Councillor Muston seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved the ongoing approach to meeting the demand for private hire driver licences.

[To approve a six-week consultation on Driver Safety Enclosures].

Greg Bickerdike, Licensing Manager presented the report: Driver Safety Enclosures Consultation. The report provided a copy of the draft City of Wolverhampton Vehicle Licence Requirements Policy and sought Committee approval to carry out a six-week consultation on the regulation of driver safety enclosures in licensed vehicles.

Councillor Brackenridge moved the recommendations and Councillor Wildman seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved a six-week consultation on the regulation of driver safety enclosures in licensed vehicles.