Agenda, decisions and minutes

Licensing and Planning Policy Committee - Thursday, 27th October, 2022 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Epsom Town Hall; https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6070521771236533260

Contact: Democratic Services, email:  democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk  tel: 01372 732000

Items
No. Item

15.

Question Time

To take any questions from members of the Public.

Minutes:

No questions were received from members of the public.

16.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Members in respect of any items of business on the agenda.

17.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 201 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 28 July 2022 and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

Minutes:

The Committee confirmed as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 28 July 2022 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

 

18.

2023/24 Budget Targets pdf icon PDF 231 KB

This report informs the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee. The report seeks guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2023/24.

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 26 July 2022.

(2)          Note that any additional new growth items supported by this Committee will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report informing the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee.  The report sought guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2023/24.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Council Funding: The Chief Accountant explained that Local Authorities expect to receive details of their funding settlement for 2023/24 in mid-December. A grant was received for 2022/23 to support the increase to the national insurance contribution, but following news of the reversal of the increase, it is anticipated that similar funding for 2023/24 will be withdrawn.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 26 July 2022.

(2)          Note that any additional new growth items supported by the Committee will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.

19.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy pdf icon PDF 270 KB

On 26th April 2022 the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee agreed a draft revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy to be consulted on.  An 8-week public consultation ran from 15 July until 9 September 2022, and the Committee are asked to consider the responses and approve a revised policy which can be recommended for adoption by Full Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee resolved by majority vote (4 voting for, 2 abstaining, and the Chair not voting), to:

(1)          Consider the responses to the public consultation

(2)          Agree the adoption of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy as set out in Appendix 2

(3)          Agree that minor changes be delegated to the Head of Housing and Communities in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee and the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Environment.

(4)          Agree that the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy as set in Appendix 2 is recommended for approval at Full Council

Minutes:

The Committee received a report summarised by the following: On 26th April 2022 the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee agreed a draft revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy to be consulted on.  An 8-week public consultation ran from 15 July until 9 September 2022, and the Committee are asked to consider the responses and approve a revised policy which can be recommended for adoption by Full Council.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            CCTV: The Principal Licensing Officer explained that the cameras would be specialist equipment and would use encrypted hard drives to store their data. He stated that if CCTV in vehicles became mandated, the Council would be responsible for the ownership and protection of the data. He confirmed there would be no cost to the Council associated with maintaining the data.  

b)           Number of Hackney Carriages in the Borough: The Principal Licensing Officer confirmed the number of Hackney Carriages in the Borough has halved since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

c)            Black Cab requirement: It was noted by the Committee thatthe Council requires license holders to drive London-style Black Cabs. The Committee considered a possible relaxation to the Black Cab requirement. The Principal Licensing Officer stated that the Council has a target number for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, confirming all Black Cabs are wheelchair-accessible, and advised a reduction in the number of Black Cabs could require an equality impact assessment to ensure any change to the policy would not cause anyone to become disadvantaged.

d)           Date for new licenses and renewals to be ULEV: The Committee considered that a date be set for when all new licenses and renewals must be Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV). The Principal Licensing Officer advised that consultation would be required before such a date could be set.

e)            Emissions Report: It was considered by the Committee that a report on Emissions as a matter of high priority be brought to a meeting of the Committee after a period of 6 months, following public consultation and the consideration of the Climate Change Working Group.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved by majority vote (4 voting for, 2 abstaining, and the Chair not voting), to:

(1)          Consider the responses to the public consultation

(2)          Agree the adoption of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy as set out in Appendix 2 of the report

(3)          Agree that minor changes be delegated to the Head of Housing and Communities in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee and the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration

(4)          Agree that the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy as set in Appendix 2 of the report is recommended for approval at Full Council