Agenda and decisions

This is where Councillors who are attending as substitutes will say for whom they are attending.

Councillor Armer substituted for Councillor Grainger-Mead

Councillor Ullah substituted for Councillor Kaushik

Councillor Bellamy substituted for Councillor K Taylor

Councillor McGuin substituted for Councillor Watson

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Allison, Asif, Eastwood and Amanda Pinnock.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 24 March 2016.

That the Minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 24 March 2016 be approved as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

Councillor Ullah declared an other interest in relation to Item 10, Revised Private Hire Operator Policy & Conditions due to the fact that he had family members that were licensed to drive taxis in Kirklees.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

The committee considered the question of the admission of the public and determined that all items that would be held in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

A petition was received from representatives of the Hackney Carriage Trade Association in support of the Hackney Carriage ranks remaining on Victoria Street (in relation to Agenda item 7).

The Committee will hear any questions from the general public.

No questions were received.

The Committee is asked to review the approval of the temporary Hackney Carriage Ranks at Victoria Street and Victoria Square and the proposed bus station rank.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That the committee approved the retention of the Hackney Carriage stands in both Victoria Square and Victoria Street.

The Committee is asked to consider the attached proposed Code of Conduct for Buskers and Street Entertainers and give approval for its implementation.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That the committee approved the Busking and Street Entertainment Code of Conduct as based on the consultation undertaken throughout the development of the code, subject to the inclusion of an appropriate distance being specified in bullet point 5 of the code.

To advise the Committee of the Council’s policy to review quantity control every three years where the Council potentially intend to continue to limit the number of available Hackney Carriage vehicle licences it issues.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That

(1)       the committee noted the Licensing Manager’s intention to undertake a scoping exercise, to identify and appoint an appropriate consultant to undertake an unmet demand survey, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules;

(2)       the results of the survey be considered by a future meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee.

The Committee is asked to approve the revisions to the Policy in relation to Private Hire Operator Licences and Conditions.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That the committee noted and approved the implementation of the revised Private Hire Operator conditions, subject to the inclusion of notification to the relevant enforcement authorities under paragraph 8.

To review the existing practice in respect of Individual Vehicle Approval (‘IVA’), consider the options available for existing private hire / hackney carriage vehicle licence holders, and approve one of the options available as an alternative to obtaining an IVA.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That consideration of the report be deferred to a future meeting of the committee, to allow further research to be undertaken and further information to be provided in relation to each of the proposals outlined.

To inform Members of a decision by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to consult on a ‘unified policy’ for all West Yorkshire Councils in relation to CCTV in licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles and to request approval for consultation to be undertaken to introduce CCTV as a mandatory requirement for all licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That the committee noted and approved the decision by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to consult on a ‘unified policy’ for all West Yorkshire Councils in relation to CCTV in licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles and that the findings be considered by a future meeting of the committee.

To request approval from the Committee to consult with stake holders and the trade on introducing a geographical knowledge test for applicants for a hackney carriage/private hire licence (badge) from outside the Kirklees area.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That

(1) the committee delegated responsibility to the Licensing Service to develop a policy in relation to out of area applicants undertaking a geographical knowledge test

(2) consultation with stakeholders and the trade be undertaken on the introduction of this policy

(3) the results of the consultation be incorporated within the newly developed policy and brought back to committee for a decision to be taken on implementation

The Licensing and Safety Committee is asked to note the change in service provider to carry out an equivalent test to the Driver, Vehicle and Standards Agency (DVSA) Taxi Driver Assessment course which is being ended by the DVSA as from the 31 December 2016.

Contact: - Catherine Walter, Local Land Charges and Highways Registry Manager tel: 01484 221000.

That the committee noted the change in service provider for the new hackney carriage/ private hire drivers assessment.