Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P.J. Bevan, D.C. Harse, Mrs D. Price and R. Whiting.

There were no declarations of interest received at the commencement or during the course of the meeting.

The Licensing Manager presented the report which proposed amendments to the meeting procedure and report format for the Taxi and General Sub Committee.

Members were advised that following a review of Committee hearing procedures, a number of minor amendments had been identified as being required for the meeting procedure and the report format for the Taxi and General Sub Committee.  The amendments proposed the attendance of the Legal Advisor throughout the entirety of the meeting (including Member deliberations) and the provision of Taxi and General Sub Committee reports to Members in advance of the hearings to allow time for consideration.  The report also proposed a trial change to the timing of routine Taxi and General Sub Committee meetings to 5.00pm to allow greater Member participation and accommodate those with day time commitments. 

In view of these proposed amendments, approval was also sought for the revised Taxi and General Sub Committee Hearing Procedure and a copy was attached to the report for Members’ consideration. 

The Committee discussed the proposals, with a Member expressing concerns over the inclusion of an Officer recommendation in future Taxi and General Sub Committee hearings, and indicating he would be unable to support this particular aspect of the proposals. 

During the course of debate, it was moved and seconded that the recommendations in the report, excluding recommendation 1.1 (d) (to trial alternative meeting times for a three month period), be approved.

Concerns were expressed as to a potential need for the payment of overtime to those staff servicing the hearings, and the Committee were advised that this would not be the case, as the Officers involved in these hearings already participate in the flexible working hours scheme.  Clarification was also sought on the rationale for the proposed trial of the 5.00pm start time.  Officers explained that they had taken into account the comments of those Members who are unable to attend daytime meetings due to their work commitments, and that moving the start time to 5.00pm could increase Member availability and ensure that they all have an opportunity to participate in the Sub Committee process. 

Several Members voiced their support for the proposal to amend the start time of the Taxi and General Sub Committees on a trial basis, and an amendment to the earlier motion was moved and seconded in that all five recommendations as set out in the report be approved, including the proposed start time of 5.00pm on a trial basis.

By a show of hands, and in noting there were 5 for and 5 against, and with the casting vote of the Chair, the amendment was declared carried. 

This became the substantive motion, and by a show of hands (and in noting there were 8 for, with 2 against and 1 abstention) was agreed by the majority present.

            RESOLVED that:-

(a)        the Legal Officer be in attendance throughout the entirety of future Taxi and Genera Sub Committee Hearings;

(b)        Taxi and General Sub Committee reports be circulated to the Members of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.