Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8th February 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

For information, disclosable pecuniary interests and registrable interests relate to entries that are included, or should be included,  on a councillor’s register of interests. Non-registrable interests relate to any other matters.

No disclosures were made.

No questions were submitted.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Interim Head of Regulatory and Community Safety.

Considered, a report of the Interim Head of Regulatory and Community Safety to consider the objections and trade petition, received by the Licensing Authority, in relation to the statutory consultation on the proposed increase in fees related to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles (item 5 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Licensing Manager and the Licensing Officer assisted with consideration of the report.

Summary of discussion:

(i)        The number of Hackney Carriage, Private Hire, Driver and Operator Licences that the Council issued was outlined.

(ii)       Discussion regarding how both Uber and taxis licensed outside of Charnwood could operate in the Borough and the extent to which the Council could control/monitor that.

(iii)      Some difficulty with benchmarking charges as authorities could include differing elements within their fees, but of 9 comparable authorities, Charnwood approximately in the middle.

(iv)    Noted that fees had not increased since 2019.  Also, that the proposed fees reflected the work undertaken by officers and remained competitive.

RESOLVED

1.         that, having considered the objections received, the fees be amended as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

2.      that the amended fees come into effect on 31st May 2023.

Reasons

1.         The fees are increased under S70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1976. This requires the proposed fees to be advertised and any objections received to be considered.

2.      If an objection(s) is not withdrawn, the district council is required to consider them and set a further date, not later than two months after the first specified date, on which the variation shall come into force with or without modification, as decided by the district council, after consideration of the objections.