To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman announced that there would be the need to convene an Extraordinary meeting of the Committee which would not admit delay until the next scheduled meeting to be held in November.  Members would be consulted upon dates.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 8 June 2011 subject to the recording of Councillor R Berry as being recorded as present.

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the recording of Councillor R Berry as being recorded as present.

To receive from Members any declarations and the nature in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item

To receive petitions in accordance with the scheme of public participation set out in Annex 2 in Part A4 of the Constitution.

The Chairman announced that no petitions had been referred to this meeting.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Procedure as set out in Appendix 1 to Part A4 of the Constitution.

An application had been received in accordance with the Scheme of Public Participation set out in Paragraph 1 of the Scheme of Public Participation set out in annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

To consider whether to pass a resolution under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that the consideration of the item is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED

The Committee resolved to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 and 12 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To make a decision whether or not to grant a private hire (special events) vehicle licence to Mr M B in view of the age of the vehicle.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Licensing and Enforcement Officer concerning an application for a Private Hire (Special Events) vehicle licence (Stretched events) in respect of Mr A B in view of the age of the vehicle.

A copy of the application form and supporting documents were attached as an appendix for Members’ information.

The applicant attended the meeting and made representations in support of the application.  The Committee were invited to view the vehicle, which was located in the car park.

In accordance with the procedures for hearings held in private, the applicant and Licensing & Enforcement Officer were asked to withdraw whilst the Committee made their decision.  The Committee’s deliberation and visual inspection of the vehicle along with its appearance aided the decision process.  Following which all who had withdrawn were recalled to hear the decision.

RESOLVED

That the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence for Mr A B be granted subject to the necessary repairs on the upholstery being undertaken and the applicant being reminded of his responsibilities to comply with the conditions of the Licence and that the Council has the powers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to revoke at any time.

To make a decision whether or not to grant a private hire vehicle licence to Mr J H in view of the age of the vehicle.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Licensing and Enforcement Officer concerning an application for a Private hire vehicle licence in respect of Mr J H  in view of the age of the vehicle.

A copy of the application form and supporting documents were attached as an appendix for Members’ information.

The applicant attended the meeting and made representations in support of the application.  The Committee were invited to view the vehicle, which was located in the car park.

In accordance with the procedures for hearings held in private, the applicant and Licensing & enforcement Officer were asked to withdraw whilst the Committee made their decision.  The Committee’s deliberation and visual inspection of the vehicle along with its appearance aided the decision process.  Following which all who had withdrawn were recalled to hear the decision.

RESOLVED

that the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence for Mr J H  be granted subject to the applicant being reminded of his responsibilities to comply with the conditions of the Licence and that the Council has the powers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to revoke the licence at any time.

To consider whether to pass a resolution to re-admit members of the press and public on the grounds that consideration of the remaining items of business are not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined by Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED

That the Press and Public be re-admitted to the remainder of the meeting.

This report seeks a decision on whether Members wish to change the current policy of requiring all hackney carriages to be wheelchair accessible.

The Committee received and considered a report of the Director of Sustainable Communities which sought a decision as to whether to change the current policy of requiring all hackney carriages to be wheelchair accessible.

The Committee received representations made under the Public Participation Scheme in accordance with the Scheme of Public Participation Scheme as set out on Paragraph 1, annex 1 of Part A4.

The hackney carriage conditions for Central Bedfordshire include a wheelchair accessible policy.  The Committee noted that 225 vehicles are licensed as hackney carriages in Central Bedfordshire, 27 of those are not wheelchair accessible and would need to be replaced by wheelchair accessible vehicles when they reach 10 years old.  Therefore, 12% of the current hackney carriage fleet are not wheelchair accessible.

A consultation was undertaken seeking views on whether the policy should be changed to permit a proportion of non wheelchair accessible vehicles.  Results of the consultation were detailed in the report.  Copies of representations were attached to the report.

The Committee noted that the Law Commission were looking into modernising Private Hire law.

During ensuing discussion upon the report the Committee agreed to retain the current requirement for all hackney carriages to be wheelchair accessible and revisit the matter when the Government makes further recommendations.

RESOLVED

that the current requirement for all hackney carriages to be wheelchair accessible be retained and that the matter be revisited when the Government makes further recommendations in 2014.

This report provides and update on the work carried by the Health and Safety Team for June to September 2011.

The Committee received and considered a report of the Director of Sustainable Communities which provided an update on the work carried out by the Health and safety team for June to September 2011.

The Committee asked a number of questions of the Environmental Health Officer presenting the report, relating to investigations that were ongoing at the time.  The Committee was informed that a number of cases had been or were being considered for any legal action that could be taken.  The Environmental Health Officer noted that investigations of breaches had led to the attempted interview under caution of different parties, but at the present time no action was being taken.

Members were advised that they were able to abtain further specific details of matters by contacting the Public Protection Team, away from the Committee meeting.

The Committee noted that 70 accidents had been reported and 8 improvement notices served.  The Safety Advisory Group had met which comprised of representatives of seven different events due to take place in Central Bedfordshire.   It was advised that partnership working was underway with Lincoln University about providing a zoo seminar for other Local Authorities.

RESOLVED

that the Health and Safety Quarterly report for June to September 2011 be noted.