Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded those present that the meeting was being filmed and would be available following the meeting via the Council’s website – Click Here to View.  Members were advised that voting on decisions would take place by way of roll call. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J. Bevan, D. Cushing and D. Harse.

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

Lee Morgan (Licensing Manager) presented the report, which recommended the level of fees to be charged by the Authority for a Zoo licence as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.  Members were advised that the Authority has a statutory duty to administer certain licences, registrations and permits. The review of fees charged, involves consideration of the cost to the Authority in providing the service.  The application for a licence is expected following receipt of a formal Notification of Intention to apply for a Zoo Licence.

The Committee were referred to Section 5.8 of the report which advised that upon initial grant of licence, the duration of a licence is 4 years, and thereafter, subsequent renewals are for a 6 year duration.  Section 5.10 of the report highlighted that local authorities are also entitled to recover such costs as are reasonably incurred in issuing directions under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and exercising their duties for treating and disposing of animals in accordance with section 16E of the Act (the welfare of animals following closure of a zoo).

Reference was made to the proposed Schedule of Zoo-related fees set out at Appendix 1, which is split into two parts: Part A) the direct costs associated with processing the application and Part B) ongoing costs associated with running the licensing function, including supervision and monitoring of licensed premises and the enforcement activity for any unlicensed premises.  Members were asked to note one typographical error at Line 4 of the table of proposed fees, which should refer to “Zoo Licence Renewal (6yr) S.14 Dispensation” and not “Zoo Licence Grant (6yr) S.14 Dispensation”.  The Committee were also invited as part of their decision-making ability to round each figure in the proposed Schedule of Fees down to the nearest whole pound for simplicity if they were minded to do so.

The Licensing Manager highlighted a dispensation under Section 14 of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 which provides the Secretary of State with powers to relax the requirements of the Act for a small zoo or for a zoo exhibiting only a small number of different kinds of animals, and Section 14(1)(b) has been acknowledged within the calculation in Appendix 1.

During the course of the ensuing debate and in response to a Member’s observation, Officers confirmed the rounding down could be applied to all future proposed licensing fees.  A Member asked if a zoo licence would cover other types of venues such as petting farms. 

The Licensing Manager responded to queries and explained that the requirement for a zoo licence depends on the species of animal to be exhibited but that indications are that the pending application will require a zoo licence.  It was confirmed that the expected zoo application would be for an existing premises located at The Meadows on the outskirts of Caerphilly near Nantgarw.

Clarification was sought on the meaning of the Section 14 dispensation and it was explained that this relates to the number of physical exhibits at a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Mr Morgan gave an update on staffing changes across the Licensing Team and then outlined a number of reports that will be brought to Committee in due course.

Members noted that a report will be brought to Committee regarding signage/livery for Welsh Government (WG) and Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) electric vehicles, as the vehicles to be supplied do not currently meet the Council’s existing vehicle specification in relation to advertising / livery.

The Committee were also advised that the Department of Transport (DfT) and Welsh Government have agreed a need for common core minimum standards for the taxi and private hire vehicle sector in order to improve public safety and standardisation, and have released two documents in this regard.  The Licensing Authority will therefore need to review its current requirements in line with statutory Standards and Welsh Government’s recommended harmonisation guidance.  This will include a number of changes to existing policy, particularly around driver fitness criteria and Group 2 medicals.  Licensing will undertake a consultation with the trade and reports will be brought to Committee on the changes.

In response to a Member’s query, Mr Morgan confirmed that the aforementioned matters would be for Committee determination and would not require a recommendation to Council.  Mr Morgan also responded to queries in relation to Group 2 medicals and CCBC branding on the WG/CCR electric vehicles.

The Committee noted the verbal update from Mr Morgan.