Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received from County Borough Councillor G. Holmes.

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 12^th December 2023.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 12^th December 2023 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

(i)  Animal Licensing

(ii) Piercing & Tattooing

The Head of Service for Public Protection and Regulatory Services presented Members with details of licences and registrations issued during the period 27^th November 2023 to 14^th January 2024.

The Head of Service for Public Protection and Regulatory Services outlined the report which is to gain in principal Members approval on the adoption of further provisions to facilitate the control of street trading. 

Members were advised that in December 2009 the Council implemented street trading provisions in Pontypridd town centre, which was extended in 2011 to the introduction of prohibition zones for the control of street trading within a 500m radius of Porth County Community School and Treorchy Comprehensive School.

Furthermore, that the scheme was initially implemented following complaints of unregistered food traders, poor food hygiene practices, litter, and odour nuisances in Pontypridd. Moreover, that the extension of provisions to areas around schools were introduced following concerns raised by the Police regarding street traders obstructing pavements & causing traffic hazards, and also, that Headteachers raised concerns that the vendors were offering high fat, low nutritional value foods that undermined the Authority’s efforts to improve the diets of young people.

It was reported that Section 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 allows Council to a adopt Schedule 4 of the Act, which states that, ‘A district Council may by resolution designate any street in their district as a prohibited street, a licence street, or a consent street. 

Members learned that in a report to Licensing Committee on June 5^th, 2007, reference is made to a meeting held on 12^th March 2007 where a report was discussed that outlined the options, Also, that all options were considered, and it was decided that the most flexible and appropriate permission was that of consent streets.

In addition, in the meeting held on the 12^th March 2007 it was determined that although there was no right of appeal against a refusal to grant/renew or revoke such consent, it was deemed good practice and Human Rights compliant that a provision be available, and therefore, aggrieved applicants will be afforded an opportunity of representation by means of the Licensing Committee.

Members were advised that it is proposed that the street trading provisions are not limited only to food vendors; it applies to other types of street trading activities, and there is also a list of exempt activities that are not regarded as Street Trading and are listed within the report embedded to the rear of the document.  In addition, at the time of writing RCT has 88 registered mobile food traders, this does not necessarily mean that all of the 88 trade within RCT. Likewise, there may be mobile food traders registered with other local authorities but trade in RCT. Furthermore, that the extension of the existing provisions may not apply to all these businesses due to them trading outside of the Borough or the frequency of trading, and also, there are currently no businesses trading that require a consent to trade.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the existing provision is extended across all RCTCBC and that a review of the existing conditions will look to improve the standard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

“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.

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

(ii) Private Hire Vehicle Operators Licences

(iii) Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licences

(iv) Private Hire Vehicle Licences

The Head of Service for 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 27^th November 2023 to 14^th January 2024.

The Committee RESOLVED to acknowledge the update.

The Head of Service for 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 27^th November 2023 to 14^th January 2024.

The Committee RESOLVED to acknowledge the update.