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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Faulkner (A), Barnby and Cowell.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 27 September 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 27 September 2012 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report that seeks agreement of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Members considered a report on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which had been the subject of a 12 week consultation period.  Members were informed that a number of Representations had been received and following consideration by Officers, amendments to the Policy had been proposed and were set out in the submitted report. 

At the meeting the Committee received oral Representations from Mr Cree, Mr Le Huray and Mr James.

Resolved:

That the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy be approved, subject to the inclusion of the amendments set out in the submitted report with the exception of:

i)          paragraph A1.6, bullet point 5 – Adhesive door signs.  The wording of the existing policy is to remain with minor changes being delegated to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee in consultation with the Council’s Senior Lawyer for Litigation &Licensing;

ii)         paragraph A1.7, bullet point 2 being amended to ‘…new Driver Standard Assessments for new drivers and existing drivers who receive over 6 points...’;

iii)        paragraph A1.9 (paragraph 5.13 of the policy), being amended to ‘The Licensing Authority aspires that all drivers are trained to BTEC Level 2 Award in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire Standards or equivalent qualification which are to the satisfaction of the Licensing Authority’; and

iv)        paragraph A1.11 (paragraph 14.6 of the policy), being amended to ‘The Licensing Authority aspires to achieve 5% wheelchair accessible vehicles by 2018 with regard to both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles’.

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.

Members noted the report which set out the decisions made under delegated powers by the Executive Head of Community Safety in relation to Licensing Act 2003 applications.

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

Members noted the report which sets out decisions made under delegated powers by the Executive Head of Community Safety in relation to Gambling Act 2005 applications.