To receive any apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from the Chairman, Councillor Manning (whereupon the Vice-Chairman Councillor Doggett to the Chair) and Councillor Parrott.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 12 November 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 November 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Sykes being present at the meeting.

Councillor King explained that there had been problems with IT and that the appointment for the meeting on 12 November had been taken out of some of the Members of the Committee’s diaries which had affected the level of attendance at this meeting.

The Committee considered the submitted report which set out the Pavement Café Policy 2016-21, which had been updated following the transfer of the licensing of Pavement Cafés from the Highways Team to the Licensing Team from 16 February 2016.

The Public Protection Officer outlined the Pavement Café Policy and circulated a revised flow chart in respect of Appendix 2 of the Policy (page 37) at the meeting.  Members noted that since publication of the agenda the document had been tidied up in terms of spelling and formatting and that the final published document would reflect these changes.

Resolved:

That the Pavement Café Policy 2016-21 as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, with the amended flow chart in respect of Appendix 2 to the Policy circulated at the meeting, be approved.

To consider a report that sets some small amendments to the current Policy.

Members received the submitted report which set out amendments to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2012.  The main changes related to the timescale for drivers to obtain a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Practical Driving Test; changes or additions to conditions relating to smoking in vehicles and E and Vapour Cigarettes; and changes to the Policy to reflect that taxi licensing is now an on line service.

Members noted that further work would be carried out on the Policy in respect of wheelchair access which will be brought back to Members in due course.

Resolved:

(i)       that the changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2012, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, including the delegation to revote a licence if the criteria in 5.10 of the Policy is met, be approved;

(ii)      that the Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) be requested to consider making it clear at the application stage that the applicant must apply and obtain a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Practical Driving Test as a condition of any licence granted; and

(iii)      that the Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) be requested to explore options to roll out the requirement to obtain Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Practical Driving Test to existing drivers in the future (for example via renewals).