Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from County Borough Councillor P. Howe due to experiencing technical difficulties and Officer Ms L Davies, Director, Public Health, Protection and Community Services.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest; and

2.     Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To note, that when Members determine the licensing and registration matters before them, they have a duty not to act in a manner that is incompatible with the convention on Human Rights and the Crime and Disorder Act.

It was RESOLVED to note that when Members determine the licensing and registration matters before them, they have a duty not to act in a manner that is incompatible with the convention on Human Rights and the Crime and Disorder Act.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 6^th July 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 6^th July 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

(i)  Animal Licensing

(ii) Piercing & Tattooing

(iii) Scrap Metal Mobile Collectors Licence

The Head of Public Protection and Regulatory Services presented Members with details of licences and registrations issued during the period 21^st June 2021 to 29^th August 2021.

It was RESOLVED to acknowledge the update.

“That the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Act”.

It was RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Mr D T

The Committee RESOLVED to defer the item to the next available meeting due to the Applicants non-attendance.

The Head of Public Protection and Regulatory Services provided Members with the report outlining the revised Statement of Principles, under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 for the period 2022 - 2025 in accordance with statutory requirements.

The officer advised that it is a statutory requirement to review the Statement of Principles on a three year basis and as a result, the current Statement had therefore been subject to review. Members learned that the Gambling Commission have set out in their Statutory Guidance both the format and content of the Statement of Principles which is considered to be the most effective method of assessing the policy documents and comparing across the Local Authorities.

The officer explained that a consultation period of 4 weeks be conducted, which expired on 13^th August 2021, and Members were pleased to learn that it included various forms of contact with interested parties including a published notice on the Council’s website and social media pages.

The Chair advised that should Members approve the report, it would be presented to full Council for adoption either on 24^th November 2021 or 15^th December 2021, with the intention to publish by the 3^rd January 2022.

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED:

·         To approve the revisions to the policy as advocated by the Director of Public Health, Protection and Community Services and;

·         To commend the revised Statement of Principles to Council for adoption.

The Head of Public, Protection and Regulatory Services provided Members with the report outlining the introduction onto fleet of 5 Nissan Dynamo Hackney Carriage vehicles that do not conform wholly to standard RCT Licensing vehicle conditions.

The officer advised that RCT secured funding from Welsh Government to

purchase the Vehicles for full livery on entirely electric, wheelchair accessible,

Nissan Dynamo hackney carriage vehicles as part of a Green Fleet Pilot

scheme which has been introduced in three areas across Wales and seeks to

encourage the taxi trade to switch to zero-emission vehicles.

Members learned that the scheme will operate a ‘try before you buy’ initiative, allowing taxi drivers to try a fully electric, wheelchair accessible vehicle for 30 days free of charge, which will include free electric charging, insurance, vehicle licensing and breakdown cover funded by Welsh Government, and following completion of the trial, drivers will be asked to complete an evaluation survey and be provided with information on schemes/assistance available for long term ownership/lease of zero-emission vehicles.

The officer explained that the pilot which will run for 2-3 years, is intended to assist Welsh Government in achieving its target of de-carbonising the taxi fleet entirely by 2028 as it is hoped it will help taxi drivers to realise the financial and environmental benefits of zero-emission vehicles and in turn contribute to the transition from diesel/petrol vehicles to zero-emission vehicles. Furthermore, a full livery has been requested for the hackney carriages involved in this pilot scheme to ensure the initiative is advertised across the area and to encourage others to be a part of the scheme.

The officer explained that due to RCT policy requiring the vehicle to be coloured all black, Members are asked to consider whether allowing the amended red top on these trial vehicles will confuse the public, as the scheme will be operating in multiple areas in Wales and may also cause confusion if several other authorities license similar looking vehicles. Furthermore, it is also proposed that vehicles licensed under this scheme will be required to display door stickers identifying them as an RCT Hackney Carriage.

Members gave consideration to the scheme and were asked to balance the positive nature of this trial and the potential benefits it will provide the fleet and the future health benefits of a zero-carbon trade, against the temporary deviation from current conditions for these vehicles.

Following discussions, the Committee RESOLVED to approve the vehicles for fleet and to permit full livery and exclude from full black colour.

The Head of Public, Protection and Regulatory Services provided Members with the report outlining the most recent enforcement activity, including any prosecution and appeals updates for the period 26^th June 2021 to 31^st August 2021.

The Committee RESOLVED to acknowledge the update.

(i)   Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Drivers Licences

(ii)  Private Hire Vehicle Operator Licenses

(iii)  Hackeny Carriage Vehicle Licences

(iv)  Private Hire Vehicle Licenses

The Head of Public, Protection and Regulatory Services provided Members with the report outlining the Licences and/or Registrations issued under provisions of Delegated Authority for the period 21^st June 2021 to 29^th August 2021.

The Committee RESOLVED to acknowledge the update.