To elect a Chairman/woman for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

Councillor Addis was elected Chairman for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Butt, Cowell and Stocks.

To elect a Vice-Chairman/woman for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

Councillor Pentney was elected Vice-Chairman for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 7 November 2013.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 8 April 2014 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

For Members to receive a verbal update.

Members welcomed Superintendent Claire Armes to the Licensing Committee and thanked her for sharing with them an insight of the Performance Management Review of Torbay’s Response to the Evening and Night Time Economy which was undertaken by an Independent Review and Inspections Team between October 2013 and December 2013.

A further, shorter, review is scheduled to take place in September/October 2014 and Superintendent Armes indicated that she would, following this review, be willing to brief Members of its results.

Members noted the progress made to date to achieve the aspiration to make 5% of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Fleet wheelchair accessible by 2018.

Members were advised that in the next 12 months there will be an Unmet Demand Survey undertaken by a private contractor, which will involve talking to drivers, owners and users.

Members noted and agreed that a survey should be undertaken of owners, drivers and users of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles to identify barriers to the increase in wheelchair accessible vehicles and the recommendations on how to increase the percentage.

To consider a report that informs Members of the decisions taken in relation to Licensing Act 2003 applications by the Executive Head Community Safety under delegated powers.

The Committee noted the report which set out the details of the decisions taken by the Executive Head, Community Safety, in relation to the Licensing Act 2003 applications, using delegated powers. 

To consider a report that informs Members of the decisions taken in relation to Gambling Act 2005 applications by the Executive Head Community Safety under delegated powers.

The Committee noted the report which set out the details of the decisions taken in relation to the Gambling Act 2005, taken by the Executive Head, Community Safety, in relation to the Gambling Act 2005 applications, using their delegated powers.

To consider a report that seeks to establish a Licensing Sub-Committee to deal with all matters in connection with licensing applications.

The Committee considered a report in relation to the establishment of a Licensing Sub-Committee which would be able to deal with all matters in connection with licensing application.  It was noted that the Licensing Act 2003 provided for the establishment of one or more sub-committees (Section 9 (1)), consisting of 3 members of the Committee.

Resolved:

(i)         that a sub-committee of the Licensing Committee be established to comprise of three Members of the Licensing Committee;

(ii)        that the terms of reference of the sub-committee be to consider and determine all matters in connection with licensing applications (including those set out in the Statement of Licensing Policy and Gambling Act Policy/Statement of Principles) and the Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Policy; and

(iii)       that the Licensing Sub-Committee be exempt from the rules of Committee proportionality, as defined in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and supporting regulations; and

(iv)       that the Governance Support Manager (in consultation with the Chairman), be authorised to empanel Members of the Licensing Committee to serve on the Licensing Sub-Committee as and when required.