Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received from Members.

There were no substitute Members appointed.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest declared by Members.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 September 2014.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Governance.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Governance on fees and charges for 2015/16. The Licensing Team Leader advised the Committee that the fees and charges for all licences remained unchanged from 2014/15.

It was moved by Councillor P S Le Chevalier, duly seconded, and

RESOLVED:        (a)     That the Fees and Charges for 2015/16 as set out in Appendix 4 be approved.

                            (b)     That Members approve the general principle that fees are set at an appropriate inclusive level, irrespective of VAT status, and that the VAT element within the overall fee level is then determined.

(c)     That Members approve the general principle that, unless the fee is set by statute, licensing fees will be set on a cost recovery basis.

(d)     That the Head of Regulatory Services is authorised to adopt fees at, or close to government directed levels without the need for further reporting, in cases where the Council is awaiting Government guidance and it has not been possible to set a fee level at that stage.

(e)     That the Head of Regulatory Services be authorised in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Director of Finance, Housing and Community to make minor adjustments to the fees and charges as necessary.

It was moved by Councillor B Gardner, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:   That, under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the items to be considered involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the report of the Licensing Team Leader.

At its meeting on 28 February 2014, the Regulatory Committee considered an application for a Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence where an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) had shown a number of previous convictions that were relevant to any decision as to the applicant’s suitability as a fit and proper person to hold a licence to drive a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle in the Dover District.

At that meeting it was resolved that the application be approved for an initial period of six months and that the Licensing Team Leader monitor the applicant’s performance and submit a report to the Regulatory Committee for it to assess whether the applicant remained a fit and proper person to be licensed by the authority, prior to the expiration of that period.

The Licensing Team Leader advised the Committee that no complaints had been received regarding the applicant’s conduct as a licensed hackney carriage/private hire driver by either the Licensing Team or the applicant’s employer, County Cars.

RESOLVED:   That having regard to the evidence, the application for a Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence be extended for a further six months.